ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth closed its second half deficit to four points in the final two minutes, but the Golden Flyers' rally stalled as visiting St. John Fisher converted 7-8 free throw attempts in the final 60 seconds to secure a 66-57 victory in a women's Empire 8 conference basketball game on Tuesday evening. Senior Brittany TallChief recorded a double-double for the Golden Flyers with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 9-8 overall and 2-5 in Empire 8 games. The Golden Flyers are currently in sixth place in the conference standings. Nazareth travels to Alfred and Elmira on Friday and Saturday, respectively, for two Empire 8 games. The Golden Flyers will try to end their four-game conference slide against the Saxons and Soaring Eagles. Fisher improves to 8-10 overall and 4-3 in Empire 8 contests following its victory. The Cardinals are presently tied with Stevens in third place in the conference standings.

Fisher used a decisive 13-3 scoring run in the first 7:13 of the second half to take a 47-34 lead. The Cardinals' tenacious defense thwarted the Golden Flyers' offensive efficiency during their scoring run. Fisher forced Nazareth into eight missed shots and five turnovers before seniors Ashley Gallagher and Katie Kollar connected on field goals to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to single digits. Kollar finished with Nazareth's lone basket during the run and added two additional baskets from beyond the arc to trim Fisher's lead. Gallagher's basket and a free throw by freshman Hannah Runyon cut Nazareth's deficit to 52-43, with 8:34 to play.

Within the next six minutes, the Golden Flyers battled to within four points, 59-55. After senior Brittany Wilson knocked in a pair of two-point jumpers and added a free throw, senior Erica Shaw connected on a three. TallChief capped the run by going 4-4 from the free throw line in a span of 53 seconds.

After cutting its lead to two possessions in the final minutes, however, Nazareth was unable to challenge Fisher for the lead. The Cardinals' defense forced the Golden Flyers' shooters to settle for long three-point attempts that rattled in and out of the basket to maintain their lead. Although Fisher finished the game shooting 66 percent (21-32) from the free throw line, the Cardinals were 7 for 8 from the charity stripe in the final minute of action. The Golden Flyers also struggled with their free throw attempts over the course of the game, finishing the contest at 55 percent (11-20).

In the first half, neither offense was able to establish a scoring run to pull away. The first 20 minutes featured seven ties and six lead changes. The Cardinals held the largest lead of the period, 23-17, but Nazareth answered with a 7-1 run to tie the game at 24 apiece. Freshman Maria Allocco ignited the run with a layup, which was followed by a basket from beyond the arc by sophomore Jessica Huang. Wilson added a jumper to cap Nazareth's run, which lasted just 94 seconds. The Cardinals scored the final three points of the period to claim a 34-31 lead at halftime.

Wilson tallied a team-high 16 points, followed by 14 points by Kollar, and TallChief's 12 points. Nazareth finished the game shooting 34 percent (19-56) from the field.

Portia Velasco and Camaryn Buckner tallied 19 points and 18 points, respectively, to lead Fisher. Avery Light added 11 points while Meghan Soja's game-high 12 rebounds helped provide the Cardinals with a 42-39 edge on the glass.