Nazareth 57, Utica 56 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (1/6/2012) – Nazareth College senior Brittany Wilson drilled a baseline jumper with two seconds left in regulation to lift the Golden Flyers to a 57-56 victory over host Utica College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads Friday night.  Junior forward Meghan Fiore netted 14 points and added a game-high 13 rebounds, while freshman guard Marissa Kahane came off the bench and scored a career-high 13 points for the Pioneers.

Utica has now lost four in a row as its record moved to 5-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play.  Nazareth has now won four straight and improved to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in the E8.  Katie Kollar led the way for the Golden Flyers with 14 points, while Wilson chipped in with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. 

The first 11 minutes of the contest featured six lead changes and four ties and the score was knotted at 20-20 with 9:05 left before the half.  Naz used an 8-0 run in less than a minute to take a 31-24 lead with 4:28 left in the first half of play.  The Pioneers answered with a 7-2 run to close out the half as the Golden Flyer led 33-31 headed into the locker room.

The first 11 minutes of the second half was also a back and forth battle that saw four ties until Utica used a 5-0 run in a span of 1:28 to take a 51-46 lead with 5:44 to go in the contest.    The visitors answered right back with a 5-0 run of their own to knot the score at 51-51 with 3:47 to go. 

Meghan Fiore made a free throw with 50 seconds to go to give UC a one point lead, 56-55, as time winded down.  A blocked shot by Fiore gave UC possession with 14 seconds left, but a missed free throw by the Pioneers gave the Golden Flyers one more crack at the win.  Wilson took advantage of the opportunity by driving the baseline and knocking down the game-winner with two ticks left on the game clock. 

Senior point guard Katie McGee scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Utica.  Alyssa Filkins netted eight points and senior forward Justine Karst added six. 

UC returns to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday when the Pioneers host Empire 8 Conference foe St. John Fisher College.  Nazareth will travel to Ithaca College on Saturday to take on the Bombers at 2 p.m.

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