ROCHESTER, NY – Sophomore Katie MacLachlan scored seven of her career-high 26 points in the third quarter as the Nazareth University Women's Basketball team broke open a close game with a 20-3 advantage in the third period and finished with a decisive 73-54 win over SUNY Brockport Saturday to end the first semester schedule. The win was the sixth in a row for the Golden Flyers.
MacLachlan needed just 1:32 of the second half to hit her 20th point of the game for a new career best scoring effort. Her previous best was 19 points earlier this week against Geneseo. The sophomore guard was also active on the defensive end of the court with seven steals which is tied for the most in a game over the past 10 years. Miyah Sizer had seven steals at Fredonia in 2021 and Sam Peebles recorded seven steals in 2015 against Rochester.
Brockport (5-4 overall) started the game hot with the first seven points of the contest but sophomore Kiara Anglin hit a pair of baskets in an 8-0 run for Nazareth (7-1) to give the Golden Flyers a lead.
Brockport scored the next seven points to retake the lead but MacLachlan hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the period to even the score and the game was tied at 19-19 after one quarter.
In the second period, MacLachlan hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to keep the game close before freshman Sarina McDowell capped a play with an assist from sophomore Molly Benetti to knot the score at 26-26 midway through the quarter.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch until MacLachlan connected on a half-court shot as time expired in the first half to take the game into the break with a 37-37 score.
The third quarter was all Nazareth as the Golden Flyers leaned on MacLachlan for her seven points and graduate student Olivia Dobrovosky with seven points to break away for the lead and took a 54-40 advantage into the final quarter.
In the final period, Nazareth used six points by Benetti and another four from Anglin to maintain the decisive lead.
MacLachlan led all scorers with her 26 while Anglin and Dobrovosky each added 14 points and Benetti chipped in 12. Dobrovosky and Benetti each had seven rebounds and MacLachlan finished with seven steals and two blocks.
Nazareth will play at Lycoming next Saturday and return December 29-30 for the first Sandy DeWolf McCormack Memorial Holiday Tournament at Nazareth. The Golden Flyers will face Baruch in the first game and Brooklyn College the following day in the classic format.
