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ALFRED, N.Y. -- Rachel Benedict posted game highs in points (24) and rebounds (18) for her sixth double-double of the season Monday as visiting Nazareth raced past Alfred State for a non-conference women's basketball victory, 72-61.

The Golden Flyers improved to 8-3 overall, while the Pioneers fell to 4-7. The Golden Flyers begin the Empire 8 Conference portion of their schedule Friday at home against Houghton at 7:30 p.m. Nazareth also plays at Alfred Saturday at 4.

On Monday, the Golden Flyers trailed Alfred State 17-16 after one period before outscoring the Pioneers 42-23 over the next 20 minutes to take control. Three other players scored in double figures for the Golden Flyers, including sophomore Kim Davis, who delivered a career-best 11 points to go with six rebounds. Sophomore Jadyn Abrams added 14 points and six rebounds and freshman Ryann Stefaniak had 13 points and seven rebounds. Junior Elizabeth White contributed seven assists.

With Nazareth down by one point after 10 minutes, Abrams scored all 14 of her points in the second and third quarters. Her basket with 8:26 to go in the second quarter gave the Golden Flyers the lead for good at 20-19 and triggered an eight-point scoring spree that ended with Nazareth ahead 26-19.

Nazareth led 30-21 at the halftime break after holding the Pioneers to just four points in the second quarter. Benedict had 10 points and seven rebounds in the third quarter and Davis added seven of her points as Nazareth gradually pulled away to its largest lead of the game -- 58-40 at the end of the third.

Alfred State closed to within eight points, 69-61, with 2:00 left, but Stefaniak had a basket and a free throw in the closing minute to preserve the double-digit outcome.