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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Utica's Meghan Fiore scored a game-high 27 points for the visiting Pioneers Saturday as Utica held on to defeat Nazareth, 63-60, in an Empire 8 Conference women's basketball game at the Kidera Gymnasium.

Nazareth dropped to 4-10 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Utica improved to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in the Empire 8.

The Golden Flyers never led in the first half as Utica built a 25-11 lead with just over eight minutes to play. Nazareth, however, rallied to trim the Utica lead to 30-28 by halftime as junior Megan Morrison scored with :44 left in the half.

Nazareth's rally continued in the second half as a 21-13 scoring run over the first 12 minutes enabled the Golden Flyers to take a six-point lead, 49-43, with less than eight minutes to go. Nazareth still led by five points, 55-50, on a three-pointer by Hannah Runyon with 5:20 to go.

Nazareth, however, had difficulty stopping Fiore, who hit a free throw with 2:11 left and a basket with 1:35 to go to help Utica regain the lead at 59-58.

Freshman Lindsey Kelly, who finished with 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, scored for Nazareth with 1:10 left to give Nazareth a 60-59 lead, but the Golden Flyers didn't score again. Fiore made the go-ahead basket with :42 to play and then sank two free throws with :15 to play to provide the winning margin.

Nazareth's Erica Shaw tried a desperation three-pointer as the final horn sounded, but the attempt fell short.

Runyon finished with 13 points with three three-pointers, while Shaw added 11 points and six assists. In addition to Fiore for Utica, Samantha Stayer had 11 points and six rebounds.

Nazareth returns to action Tuesday to play at St. John Fisher at 6 p.m.