ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Alfred 72-61 in a women's Empire 8 conference basketball game Friday evening. Senior Brittany Wilson amassed a team-high 18 points and collected seven rebounds for the Golden Flyers. Senior Erica Shaw recorded a career-high 16 as she finished 10-10 from the free throw line.

With the victory, Nazareth improves to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in conference contests. The Saxons drop to 7-7 overall and 0-3 in Empire 8 games following the loss.

Wilson converted a three-point play about five minutes into the game to provide the Golden Flyers with an early 8-5 lead. Nazareth maintained its lead through the remainder of the contest. Senior Brittany Patenaude recorded six consecutive points with two layups and a pair of free throws to stretch the Golden Flyers' lead to 21-14. Shaw's three-point basket with around four minutes to play gave Nazareth its largest lead of the half, 27-18. Alfred, however, tallied the final five points of the half to trim its deficit to 34-30 at halftime.

After neither team scored on its opening possession of the second half, the Saxons' Cate Mensler connected on a three-point shot to bring Alfred to within one point. On the Golden Flyers' ensuing offensive possession, senior Katie Kollar answered with a shot from beyond the arc to maintain Nazareth's lead.

The Golden Flyers put together a 12-0 scoring run to claim a game-high 14 point lead, 53-39, with 12:26 to play in regulation. Nazareth's damage spanned less than three minutes as Patenaude connected on a three, Shaw converted two free throws and a three-pointer, and senior Ashley Gallagher added a layup. During the offense's torrid run, the Golden Flyers' defense forced Alfred into eight missed shots, two fouls, and a turnover.

With just under seven minutes to play, Alfred climbed to within four points, 58-54, after Harley Cleary converted a three-point play. Cleary's three points were part of a 9-0 scoring run to allow the Saxons to get back in the game. Nazareth's offense committed five turnovers during Alfred's run. Wilson ended the threat with a two-point jumper, then Shaw connected on four more free throws to rebuild the Golden Flyers' double-digit lead. Shaw was 6-6 from the charity stripe in the final five minutes to help secure the victory.

Patenaude finished with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds while senior Brittany TallChief added seven points and Kollar had six points. Nazareth finished with a 46-36 advantage on the glass.

Cleary tallied a game-high 19 points and had five steals and five assists to lead the Saxons. Grace Williamson recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Golden Flyers host Elmira Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in another Empire 8 conference game.