Box | Updated stats
UTICA, N.Y. -- Host Utica used a 17-4 scoring run to open the second half Saturday and then the Pioneers held off a late surge by Nazareth to produce a 59-55 women's basketball victory over the Golden Flyers in an Empire 8 Conference game.

Utica remained unbeaten in conference action with its second win of the season over the Golden Flyers. The Pioneers are 4-0 in the E8 and 10-2 overall. Nazareth lost for the fourth straight time -- all in Empire 8 Conference action -- to fall to 2-5 in conference play and 7-6 overall.

Utica built an nine-point lead in the first half, 25-17, following a free throw by Devon Croll with 9:12 left. Nazareth, however, used a 16-4 scoring run to take a 32-27 lead following a three-pointer by Kelly Dunne with 2:28 left in the half.

Utica finished the half with six straight points and then scored the first seven points of the second half, including a three-pointer by Croll, to go up eight, 40-32. A basket by Nazareth's Katie Kollar interrupted the run, but another 10-2 run stretched the Pioneers' advantage to a game-high 14 points, 50-36, with 10:29 to go.

Nazareth chipped away and closed to within seven, 56-49, on a three-pointer by senior Kylie Bartlett with 4:20 left. Two free throws by Ashley Gallagher followed and Bartlett nailed her fifth three-pointer of the game with 1:43 to go to trim Utica's lead to 56-54. Bartlett then made one of two free throws with :54 left to make it 56-55.

Utica sealed the win on a pair of free throws by Jessica Berry with :07 left and a free throw by Justine Karst with :01 to go.

Barlett was Nazareth's high scorer with a career-high 16 points, which included five three-pointers in six attempts. Freshman Jenee Vanderstyne added 10 points.Berry led all scorers with 19 points to go with eight rebounds. Croll and Katie McGee each added 12.

Nazareth returns to action Tuesday in the annual Wendy's College Classic (former the JPMorgan Chase Tournament) with first-round games scheduled for Keuka and Roberts Wesleyan. Seedings will be announced Sunday evening.