WBB Sandy DeWolf McCormack Memorial Holiday Tournament win photo
Emily Hughes
65
Piedmont PIED 3-6,0-2 CCS
78
Winner Nazareth Naz 6-2,1-0 Empire 8
Piedmont PIED
3-6,0-2 CCS
65
Final
78
Nazareth Naz
6-2,1-0 Empire 8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Piedmont PIED 17 19 14 15 65
Nazareth Naz 21 19 17 21 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Basketball Takes McCormack Tournament over Piedmont, 78-65

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Women's Basketball (6-2, 1-0) won the Sandy DeWolf McCormack Memorial Holiday Tournament with a 78-65 win over Piedmont (3-6, 1-1) Sunday afternoon inside Kidera Gymnasium. 

Molly Benetti earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award after registering 34 points, 15 rebounds, 10 blocks and seven assists in two contests. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
  • Nazareth jumped out in front in the first quarter by scoring on six of its first eight possessions, using early paint touches before a Katie MacLachlan steal and fast-break layup pushed the lead to 21-17 late in the period.
  • The Golden Flyers opened the second quarter with strong energy, netting baskets from Payton Littlefield and Kiara Anglin while turning defensive stops into transition opportunities to maintain a multi-possession lead.
  • Nazareth weathered a mid-quarter push and responded with consecutive scores in the paint before capping the half with a second-chance bucket in the final second to take a 40-36 advantage into the locker room. 
  • An 8-0 run midway through the third quarter, sparked by back-to-back threes, created the first double-digit lead of the game and shifted momentum firmly in Nazareth's favor, 46-36.
  • The Golden Flyers carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, opening with timely perimeter shooting and extending the margin to a game-high 13 points with just over two minutes remaining.
  • Nazareth closed out the 78-65 win at the free-throw line, finishing with balanced scoring and steady defensive control down the stretch.
GAME NOTES
  • Molly Benetti led the Golden Flyers with 18 points, her third consecutive game in double-digits. The senior added six rebounds, four blocks and four assists while going a perfect 4 of 4 from the free throw line. 
  • Katie MacLachlan recorded 15 points and went 3 for 9 from beyond the arc. The reigning Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week tacked on six rebounds, four steals and three assists for her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season. 
  • Kiara Anglin matched her season-high with 14 points, registering 5 of 6 buckets from the field. Anglin totaled four rebounds, four steals and two assists.
  • Sarina McDowell rounded out Nazareth's double figure scorers with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and one block. 
  • Brayden Schultz matched her career-high with 12 rebounds over Piedmont, leading the Golden Flyers in boards. 
UP NEXT 
Nazareth travels to California Lutheran University, Sunday, Dec. 28. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. EST in Thousand Oaks, Calif. 

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