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CUMULATIVE STATSROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Sophomore Kelly Dunne helped lead the host Golden Flyers to their first conference victory in women's basketball as she scored a game-high 14 points. Nazareth improves to 3-6 overall (1-2 Empire 8) with the 67-40 victory. With the loss, Alfred falls to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
After making one basket in the first seven minutes of the game, the Golden Flyers caught fire and never let Alfred back into the game. Junior Sally Wilcox hit her second three-pointer of the night at the 12:55 mark of the first half to give Nazareth a 6-4 lead. The Golden Flyers increased their lead to 11 points with an 11-2 scoring run over the next six minutes. Senior Lexie Hilliard and Dunne each recorded two baskets during the scoring run while senior Ali Sharpe added a layup to finish it.
Nazareth was able to stretch its lead to as many as 18 points in the first half as junior Lizzie Barlow connected on consecutive two-pointers in the final 35 seconds. The Golden Flyers settled for a 15-point halftime lead after Melanie Jackson connected on a layup and free throw for the Saxons.
In the second half, Nazareth was never challenged by Alfred as the Golden Flyers built on their double-digit lead. Nazareth shot 41% from the field throughout the game to continually pull away. The Golden Flyers defense held Alfred to under 27% field goal percentage in the first half and 35% for the game to build its lead.
In addition to Dunne's 14 points, Wilcox added 13 points for Nazareth while Barlow finished with nine points and Sharpe with eight. Jackson scored a team-high 13 points for Alfred in the loss. The Saxons had a slight edge in rebounds (35-31) but the Golden Flyers forced the Saxons into making 26 turnovers.
Nazareth returns to action Saturday at 2 p.m. to host Stevens in another Empire 8 Conference game.