ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-seeded Nazareth won five of the six singles matches Saturday to rally past St. John Fisher to win the Empire 8 Conference championship for women's tennis with a 6-3 triumph over the Cardinals at the Golisano Training Center.

Nazareth remained unbeaten at 8-0 in winning its second conference title in the last four seasons. The Golden Flyers also gained an automatic berth to next month's NCAA Division III Tournament.

After dropping two of the three doubles matches, Nazareth rallied behind some gritty singles play. Graduate student Brooke Murphy was named tournament MVP after prevailing in three sets at second singles over St. John Fishere's Kathryn Strait. Scores were 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Junior Caroline Keegan also took a close three-set victory at fourth singles and as outlasted Fisher's Maddie Galvin 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Freshman Aliya Guzman and sophomores Rachel Cook and Theresa Hecht each were straight-set winners at first, fifth and sixth singles respectively. 

Nazareth's lone doubles point came from the tandem of Guzman and Murphy, who dominated Fisher's twosome of Mikayla Santulli and Kathryn Strait by an 8-2 score.