Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. --
Rachel Benedict scored 16 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter and
Erica Bradley scored a career-high 20 points Saturday as visiting Nazareth held off Elmira for a 72-63 women's basketball victory in Empire 8 Conference action.
The victory was the fifth in a row for the Golden Flyers, who improved to 15-6 overall and 7-3 in Empire 8 action. Elmira dropped to 4-17 overall and 2-8 in conference games.
Combined with her game-high 13 rebounds, Benedict recorded her 11th double-double of the season. Her 29 points equaled her career high set earlier this season against Middlebury. Bradley's 20 points eclipsed her career high of 13 points, which she has reached four times previously.
Nazareth led 52-49 heading into the fourth quarter, but Elmira nailed three three-point baskets in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 62-62 with 3:51 left. Benedict scored for Nazareth on the next possession and then assisted on the next basket by
Jadyn Abrams (12 points) that secured the lead for good. Benedict then added another basket and four free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Overall, Benedict shot 10-for-18 from the floor and knocked down all eight of her free throws.
Elmira had the lead 15-13 after the first quarter and scored the first five points of the second quarter to go up 20-13. The Golden Flyers came back behind the hot hand of Bradley, who scored 17 of her points in the second quarter, including five three-pointers. Nazareth led 35-32 at the halftime break.
The Golden Flyers appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open in the third quarter as they pushed their lead to nine points on a basket by Benedict with 4:26 left. Elmira came back to close within three points, 52-49, heading in to the fourth.
Nazareth shot the ball well overall in hitting 50.9 percent of its field goal attempts (27-of-53), but the Golden Flyers also committed 24 turnovers, the second highest total of the season. Abrams added six rebounds and four assists to her 12 points. Freshman
Ryann Stefaniak had five assists and senior
Kristen Simmons had three assists and three steals.
Nazareth plays at Hartwick Sunday at 4 p.m.