ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College women's basketball team would nearly erase a 16-point fourth quarter deficit, but would come up just short in its 77-69 loss to Nazareth on Saturday. After a near lights-out performance by both teams from the floor to start the game, Elmira would rally to outscore the Golden Flyers 21-13 in the fourth, but would fall just shy of victory.

In the opening frame, the Golden Flyers would shoot an astonishing 70.6% from the floor (12-of-17), including 3-of-3 from deep. Elmira, who would post its second-best field goal percentage for a quarter, shot 8-of-15 from the floor led by Alleney Klunk '24 with seven points. 

Trailing 29-19 heading into the second, the Soaring Eagles would turn the ball over an additional three times which led to a 12-2 advantage for Nazareth in points off turnovers in the half. After a neck-and-neck quarter, the Golden Flyers eventually held the 18-17 advantage in the frame and would head to the locker room ahead 47-36. Klunk and Desiree Roy '25 paced Elmira with seven points apiece, while nine EC players recorded first-half points. 

In the second half, the Golden Flyers held the 17-12 advantage while forcing Elmira into six turnovers. 

Trailing 64-48, Elmira put together a run of its own over the first eight minutes of play which saw Nazareth's lead shrink to as little as five points with 1:11 remaining. Down the stretch, the Soaring Eagles would be forced to foul as Roy's ten-point quarter was not enough to stun the Golden Flyers. For the contest, Elmira shot 45.6% from the field on 26-of-57 shooting, while the Soaring Eagles held the slim 11-9 edge in offensive rebounding.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 69, Nazareth 77
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Speidel Gymnasium
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (10-7, 6-5 E8), Nazareth (13-5, 9-2 E8)

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday evening when hosting the Mavericks from Medaille University in another Empire 8 Conference matchup. Tip off is set for 5:00 PM on the campus of Elmira College.