ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Host Nazareth completed a weekend sweep of Empire 8 women's basketball games Saturday as the Golden Flyers routed Keuka for the second time this season, 67-29, on Mike Daley Court at the Kidera Gymnasium.
Combined with Friday's victory at Utica, Nazareth improved to 15-8 overall and 10-4 in the Empire 8. With two regular-season games remaining, the Golden Flyers are in third place in the conference standings. They visit Alfred Friday and Houghton Saturday. Keuka dropped to 1-21 overall and 0-14 in the E8.
Prior to Saturday's game, the Golden Flyers honored their seniors and graduate students who were competing in their final regular-season home game. They are
Jadyn Abrams,
Caley Cornwell,
Kim Davis,
Haley Schoelerman,
Sarah Simmons,
Makalah Sizer,
Miyah Sizer and
Sabrina Wolfe.
Nazareth made a season-high 12 three-point baskets in the game with Abrams hitting five for a game-high 15 points. Wolfe hit three and scored 13 points. Davis and Schoelerman each grabbed eight rebounds and Schoelerman had a career-best five blocks.
Nazareth held the Wolves to just one first-quarter field goal in taking a 12-2 lead. Abrams and Wolfe each sank three-point shots for Nazareth, which shot 4-for-14 (.286). Keuka, meanwhile, went 1-for-9 and 0-for-2 from three-point range.
The Golden Flyers opened the second quarter on an 13-2 scoring run that featured a pair of three-pointers from Abrams and one by Wolfe. The lead ballooned to 38-9 at the halftime break as Abrams went 4-for-6 from three-point range and Wolfe was 3-for-3.
Nazareth's lead grew to 59-18 through three quarters as Cornwell, Davis and Simmons each hit three-point shots. Abrams added another three-pointer in the fourth quarter as Nazareth stayed comfortably ahead.
The Golden Flyers went 24-for-64 from the field overall (37.5%), including 12-for-38 (31.6%) from three-point range. Nazareth clinched an Empire 8 playoff berth with Friday's win. St. John Fisher clinched the top seed for the four-team tournament scheduled for Feb. 25-26.