ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Soaring Eagles women's basketball team hosted the Golden Flyers of Nazareth University for an Empire 8 conference matchup inside Speidel Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles battled but ultimately fell against the Golden Flyers, 84-56.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Amarionah Dixon opened the scoring, grabbing an offensive rebound, spinning and making a layup. Lauren Miller hit a three-pointer from the wing, followed by a floater from Dixon, as Elmira captured some early offensive momentum. Haley Mosch made layups on back-to-back possessions to put Elmira up 11-9. Layups were traded by both teams as the first quarter concluded with Nazareth up 14-13. The Soaring Eagles shot an efficient 43 percent from the field in the opening quarter. The Golden Flyers started the second quarter off with a layup. Mia Welty cut inside, taking a pass from Abby Belcher, making a layup for Elmira's first points of the quarter. Emma Ryan hit a three-pointer as part of a 7-0 scoring run for EC that cut the deficit to one. Mosch added another layup, receiving a stellar pass inside from Sophia Ward. Nazareth responded with a 12-0 scoring run, to go up by 15. The first half concluded with the Golden Flyers holding a 43-28 advantage.

Ryan opened the third quarter with a three-pointer from the wing. Kelsey Stewart made a layup, followed by a three-pointer from Dixon, part of a nine-point third quarter for her. The Golden Flyers ended the third quarter on an 8-2 scoring run that gave them a 59-42 advantage entering the final quarter of play. A mid-range jumper from Dixon got the Soaring Eagles started in the fourth. Nazareth responded with a 9-0 scoring run. Mallory Welty halted the run with a three-pointer from the wing. The Golden Flyers took back the momentum with another scoring run, this one a 5-0 run. Aynsley Belcher hit a three-pointer off a pass from Ward with five minutes remaining. Nazareth went on a 9-0 scoring run before Hannah Nichols made a layup for EC to slow down the momentum. Natalie Musolino added a layup in the final minute for Elmira, but time would run out, Nazareth holding an 84-56 advantage at the final buzzer.

LEADERS
Offensively, Dixon led the way with 15 points, shooting a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. Ryan tallied eight points including a pair of three-pointers. Mosch notched six points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists.

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will be back home for a conference matchup with the Wolves of Keuka College on Tuesday, February 17^th where they will honor the senior class. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM.