Nazareth falls to Cortland
BOXSCORE |
CUMULATIVE STATSCORTLAND, NY -- Jessica Laing recorded a game-high 26 points to lead host Cortland to a 63-48 victory over Nazareth in a non-conference game. Freshman Mary Holland recorded a career-high 12 points for the Golden Flyers in the loss.
The Red Dragons, ranked 24th nationally according to d3hoops.com, remained unbeaten at 4-0, while Nazareth slipped to 2-3 overall.
Cortland took an early 3-0 lead after a three-pointer by Maggie Byrne 13 seconds into the game. Holland answered with a three-pointer for the Golden Flyers to tie the game 3-3. The Red Dragons scored the next seven points to take a 10-3 lead, but a three-pointer from sophomore Kelly Dunne and a layup from sophomore Rachel Pirozzolo pulled the Golden Flyers' deficit to 13-11 with 12:57 remaining in the first half.
The Red Dragons seemed to reclaim control of the game with their next possession as Laing connected on a three-pointer to begin a 24-11 scoring run over the next 10 minutes of the game. The scoring run gave Cortland a 37-22 lead with 2:04 to play.
Laing scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the first half to help the Red Dragons take a 37-25 lead at the break. Cortland, which never trailed, led 51-32 after a Laing three-point play with 12:39 left and held a 53-35 advantage following a Cavanaugh jumper with 12:05 left.
Nazareth, however, held the hosts scoreless for more than seven minutes and without a field goal for almost nine minutes. A 9-0 run, featuring three-pointers by Holland and Jamie Malloy, pulled the Golden Flyers within 53-44 with 4:43 left. Laing hit a free throw with 4:29 remaining to end the Cortland drought. Byrne’s two free throws with 3:39 left and Laing’s layup at the 3:08 pushed the Cortland lead back to 14 points and sealed the victory.
Nazareth begins its Empire 8 Conference schedule in its next game at RIT. The teams play Tuesday at 6 p.m.