Box | Updated stats
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Host Houghton scored the first 13 points of the game Tuesday and the Golden Flyers never recovered as the Highlanders went on to take a 66-53 women's basketball victory in a non-conference game. Nazareth dropped to 7-13 overall. Houghton is 9-9.

Maisie Pipher scored five points for Houghton, including a three-point play less than five minutes into the game as the Highlanders raced to an early lead. Naissa Guerrero and Kaitlyn Gaffney each knocked down three-point shots to fuel the early scoring spree.

Freshman point guard Veronica Peck scored 12 points for the Golden Flyers, including a basket with 8:51 to play in the first half to bring Nazareth to within 19-13. Houghton maintained its edge, however, as EstherWebb scored just before the halftime horn to keep the Highlanders comfortably ahead, 32-23.

Houghton led by as many as 14 points in the second half and Nazareth closed within eight, 53-45, following a basket by Peck with 4:51 to go, but Gaffney hit a three-pointer on the Highlanders' next possession to extend the lead to double digits.

Freshmen Lindsey Kelly and Sam Sorge each scored nine points for Nazareth, while sophomore Maria Allocco and senior Erica Shaw each scored eight. Houghton had four double-digit scorers, led by Kaitlin Hammersley's 16 points. Gaffney scored 13, Pipher 11 and Guerrero 10.

Nazareth shot 20-for-55 (36.4 percent) from the field and just 8-for-21 from the free-throw line.

The Golden Flyers are back home Friday to host Ithaca at 6 p.m.