Score: Nazareth College 73, Elmira College 53
Records: Nazareth (9-3, 2-1 E8), Elmira (3-9, 0-3 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's basketball team held an early lead but couldn't hold on as Nazareth College pulled away late to seal a 73-53 win over the Soaring Eagles in Empire 8 Conference action on Saturday.

EC opened the game with a jump shot from Meghan Loya '16 to take the game's initial lead. Tied at 4-all, Emily Green '18 drained a three-pointer to put the Soaring Eagles up 7-3 at the 7:45 mark in the opening quarter.

Nazareth scored the next four points to grab the lead, but Green answered with another triple, and EC was up 10-8 at 5:51 in the first quarter. That is the last time Elmira would hold the lead, as Naz's Julia Brew netted the first of her game-high three treys on the ensuing possession.

The Golden Flyers finished the first quarter on a 14-2 run and would race out to a 15-point lead within the first three minutes of the second quarter. Down 27-12, the Soaring Eagles went on a 10-2 run over the next 3:38 to whittle the deficit down to seven points. Danielle Cleary '18 and Rachel Vespucci '19 each scored four points during the run.

While EC found itself down by 20 points, 52-32, midway through the third period, the Soaring Eagles showed plenty of life by using a 13-5 run to come within 12 inside the final 30 seconds of the period.

Naz's Kelly Broderick responded with a last-second three-pointer, switching the momentum back to the Golden Flyers, who went on to outscored EC 13-8 in the final quarter.

Turning Point
With Nazareth building their lead in the second quarter, Cleary and Vespucci combined for the game's next eight points to bring Elmira within seven points at 29-22. Even after Naz extended the lead to 10 points at halftime, Lindsey Heaton '19 opened the third quarter with two points to make it an eight-point deficit, 37-29. Naz then scored 13 of the next 14 points to take their first 20-point lead, which proved to be too much for EC to overcome  despite a spirited effort late in the third quarter.

Inside the Box Score

• Elmira went 17-for-52 from the field (32.7 percent), while Nazareth went 23-for-53 (43.4 percent).
• EC shot the ball well from distance, making 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from distance.
• The Golden Flyers dominated the glass tonight, 40-24.
• The Soaring Eagles knocked down 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) free-throw attempts.
• Nazareth was 21-of-23 (91.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
• Nazareth's Veronica Peck led all scorers with 19 points.
• The Golden Flyers had five players finish in double figures.
• Elmira had three players log double-digits, headlined by Cleary's team-high 17 points.
• Loya had a solid outing, recording 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
• Vespucci added 10 points and six boards off the bench.

News and Notes

• Elmira's seven three-point attempts tie its season low.
• EC's 57.1 three-point percentage is a season high, and the team's highest percentage since November 22, 2014.
• Elmira's 24 rebounds is a season low, and the fewest the team has grabbed since the 2013-14 season when EC had two games with 21 and 20 boards.
• Vespucci has logged back-to-back double-digit performances, a career first for the rookie forward.
• Cleary's team-high 17 points marks the 10th time this season she has led the team in scoring.
• Loya recorded her third double-digit point game of her senior season, finishing one-point shy of her season high.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Tuesday, January 12th, when the Soaring Eagles make the short trip up Route 13 to take on neighboring Ithaca College. The opening tip for Tuesday's Empire 8 contest is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.