ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting St. John Fisher outscored Nazarerth 17-10 in the fourth quarter and 30-20 in the second half Thursday to rally past Nazareth for a 54-49 women's basketball victory in Empiire 8 Conference action.

Fisher improved to 11-2 overall and remained unbeaten in conference play at 4-0. The Cardinals are tied with Stevens for first place in the Empire 8. Nazareth dropped to 10-4 overall and 3-2 overall and 4-1 in the Empire 8.

Mary Kate Cusack scored a game-high 16 points for Fisher, including a key 10-point run in the fourth quarter that enabled the Cardinals to gain control for good. Lindsey Kelly, Veronica Peck and Samantha Peebles each scored 13 points for Nazareth. Kelly had a game-high 14 rebounds and Peebles had 10.

The Golden Flyers got off to a good start, racing to a 15-5 lead in the first five minutes as Peebles and Peck each knocked down three-point shots. Nazareth's lead was 18-11 after one quarter and 29-24 at the half as Peck made all four of her three-point attempts for 12 points. Peebles and Kelly each had six first-half points.

The game was close throughout the second half with Fisher grabbing the lead for the first time at 32-31 following a short jumper by Jessica Rhone with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

Nazareth regained the lead before the third quarter ended and carried a 39-37 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. A pair of free throws by Julia Brew in the closing seconds of the period snapped a 37-37 deadlock.

Peebles opened the fourth-quarter scoring for Nazareth by hitting her second three-pointer of the game to extend Nazareth's advantage to 42-37.

Cusack then took over for Fisher by scoring the next 10 points, including two three-pointers to trigger a 12-point scoring run that enabled Fisher to take a 49-42 lead with less than five minutes to play.  

A free throw by Sam Sorge with 4:04 left interrupted the run. Peebles sank two more free throws with 3:35 left to draw Nazareth to within 49-45. A basket by Rhone made it 51-45 for Fisher. Kelly answered with a put-back basket for Nazareth to make it 51-47 with 1:49 to go.

After Sorge scored for Nazareth to trim the deficit to 51-49, Fisher's Emily Piacentini hit one of two free throws to push the score to 52-49 with :12 left.

Nazareth rebounded the miss off the second free throw, called time out and set up a final shot, a three-pointer by Sorge from the top of the key that rimmed the basket. Caroline Robertson added a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds left to make the final 54-49.

Nazareth shot 16 for 45 from the field (35.6 percent) for the game.