Box Score 

Utica 63, Nazareth 60 - Women's Basketball Final

Rochester, NY (1/12/2013) - Senior Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) and sophomore Samantha Stayer (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) combined for the Pioneers final 13 points as the Utica College women's basketball rallied to defeated host Nazareth College 63-60 in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon at Kidera Gymnasium.  Fiore finished the day with a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds, while Stayer closed out the afternoon with 11 points.  The Pioneers improved to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play. 

Utica rallied from a six point deficit, 49-43, with 7:55 remaining in the contest to earn the conference victory.  Alyssa Filkins (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill) netted nine points, whileMarissa Kahane (Sayville, NY/Sayville) and Mary Miceli (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) combined for ten points as the Pioneers earned their fourth conference win of the year.  Filkins also added seven assists.  Bridget Greenwald (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) grabbed a team-best nine rebounds and added three steals for UC.  Miceli netted a key second half 3-pointer to help spark the Pioneer comeback. 

UC jumped out to 14 point lead in the first half, 25-11, at the 8:12 mark behind six straight points from Filkins.  Naz answered with an 11-1 run to cut UC's lead to just five points, 26-21, with 5:12 left in the first half of play.  The Pioneers pushed their lead back to eight points, 29-21, but the home team responded by outscoring UC 7-1 in the final 2:36 of the first half to set the score at 30-28, advantage Utica, at the half. 

The lead changed hands five times in the first ten minutes of the second half before Naz used an 8-1 run in less than three minutes to give the home team a six point lead, 49-43, with 7:55 left in regulation.  Utica rallied and earned the lead back, 59-58, when Fiore connected on a lay-up with 1:35 remaining in the game.  Naz got the lead right back when Kelly converted a lay-up at the 1:10 ledger.  Fiore then scored with 42 seconds left and the Golden Flyers missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down the floor. UC came away with the rebound to secure possession with 19 seconds left.  Fiore then made both of her free throws after being fouled with 15 seconds left to seal the victory for the Pioneers. Naz's Erica Shaw missed a desperation 3-pointer on the other end as time expired with the Pioneers on top by three points. 

Lindsey Kelly netted 21 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the Golden Flyers.  Naz outscored UC 24-18 in the paint and the Golden Flyers also netted 18 second chance points compared to UC's nine.  Naz moved to 4-10 overall and 1-3 in the Empire 8.  Hannah Runyon added 13 points on 3-of-7 from 3-point land for the Golden Flyers. 

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday when they host Elmira College for a conference affair at 2 p.m.