ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to the Nazareth College Golden Flyers 66-46 on Tuesday night in an Empire 8 clash.
 
Utica continued to spread the ball around as 12 players scored tonight. Madelyn Cozzens (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) led the way with eight points and three rebounds. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) also poured in six points with three rebounds while Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) dropped six points shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) added four points, five rebounds, and two assists while veterans Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) each scored at least three points with four rebounds and three assists.
 
The Pioneers forced 17 turnovers and scored 14 points off these golden opportunities. Many of these chances happened when Utica's defense came alive in the final quarter and helped the team put together its comeback effort as the team shot 46.67 percent from the field in the final frame. Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) led the team with two steals while Sierra Kinne (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Cristina Negron (Easthampton, MA/Williston Northampton), McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East), and Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) each recorded one.
 
Utica held Nazareth to just 39.1 percent from the field, yet the Golden Flyers were able to crash the glass and outrebounded the Pioneers 49-34 resulting in second chance points. Kim Davis led Nazareth in scoring with 14 points and Brielle Reidinger poured in 10 points of her own.
 
Nazareth started the game on a 9-0 run before buckets by Madelyn Cozzens (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy Memorial) helped cut the lead to 9-4. The Golden Flyers took a 40-14 advantage into the half as the team scored the majority of its points on the fast break. Yet, Utica made clear adjustments for the second half as they outscored Nazareth 32-26 in the second half. The Pioneers kept fighting to the very end as the team outscored the Golden Flyers 22-7 in the final quarter, but its comeback effort fell short as Nazareth held on for a 66-46 victory.
 
Utica (7-5, 2-3 Empire 8) will return home to host Elmira College on Friday, January 13 at 5:30 p.m.