Box l Updated stats
UTICA, N.Y. -- Freshmen Ashley Gallagher and Brittany Wilson each scored a team-high 10 points for the visiting Golden Flyers, but Utica used a 22-2 advantage in free throws to pull away from Nazareth in the second half of a women's Empire 8 basketball game. Wilson also finished with 10 rebounds for the Golden Flyers.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 11-11 overall and 5-8 in Empire 8 conference games. The Pioneers improve to 17-5 overall and 11-2 in conference games.

The Golden Flyers took an 8-4 lead after Gallagher converted an offensive rebound into a layup with about 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The Pioneers answered with a 13-3 scoring run to take a 17-11 lead with 8:21 to play in the half. Wilson connected on a two-point basket to bring Nazareth to within four points, but Utica used a 7-0 scoring run to take a 24-13 lead. The Pioneers' Jessica Berry made a layup with :02 left in the half to extend Utica's lead to 13 points, 35-22, at the break.

After Utica built its lead to 16 points early in the second half, the Golden Flyers went on a 10-2 scoring run to cut their deficit to 42-34 with 13:29 remaining in the game. Senior Sally Wilcox began Nazareth's rally with a three-point basket, followed by two layups from Gallagher and a layup and free throw from junior Kelly Dunne.

The Golden Flyers came within seven points of the Pioneers twice, but Utica's advantage in free throws proved to be the difference in the final minutes. In the last 5:39 of the game, the Pioneers were 10-12 from the free throw line, which stretched Utica's lead from 52-44 to as many as 18 points with under a minute to play.

Outside of the 10 points from Wilson and Gallagher, Nazareth received six points each from Wilcox and senior Lizzie Barlow. Barlow also added a team-high 11 rebounds. Junior Jamie Malloy and sophomore Mary Holland each contributed five points for the Golden Flyers.

Berry finished with a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Pioneers while Mallory Davis and Katie McGee added 18 points and 13 points respectively.

The Golden Flyers travel to RIT for their next contest February 17th.