Utica 64, Nazareth 58 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (1/21/2011) - The Utica College women's basketball team outscored visiting Nazareth College 10-4 in overtime and went on to win 64-58 in a thrilling Empire 8 Conference contest Friday night at the Clark Athletic Center. Utica sophomore forward Meghan Fiore (Epping, NH/Epping) and Naz junior forward Brittany Wilson exchanged buckets all night, including the final two field goals of regulation, to send the contest into overtime, knotted at 54-54. Fiore, who netted five points in the final 44 seconds of regulation to force OT, finished the day with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Wilson scored a game-high 28 points for the visitors.

Utica has now won five of its last six games and improved to 9-7 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Golden Flyers dropped to 7-9 overall and 3-4 in the E8.

The first half was a back and forth battle featuring seven lead changes and three ties with the visitors coming out on top by one, 28-27, as the halftime buzzer sounded. The Pioneers dominated play in the paint in the first half, outscoring the Golden Flyers 16-6 near the hoop, but Naz knocked down five 3-pointers to earn the slim lead after 20 full minutes of play. Nazareth's largest lead of the first half was five points, 28-23, with 4:16 to go. The Pioneers managed a 4-0 run to close out the half and trailed by just one headed into the locker room.

UC earned its first lead of the second half when senior guard Devon Croll (Vernon, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) stole a pass at mid court and converted on the fast break lay up to put the Pioneers on top 42-41 with 10:26 to go in regulation. The contest would slow down a bit until Croll hit another key shot to tie the score for the 12th time with 3:43 to go. Naz took the lead once again down the stretch, until Fiore's five straight points gave Utica a two point advantage, with seven seconds to go. Murphy answered when she dribbled the length of the court and made the game-tying lay up as the regulation buzzer sounded.

The Pioneers opened overtime with a 9-0 run in the first 3:37 of play to put the game out of reach.

All five starters scored for the Pioneers including senior forward Jessica Berry (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who finished the day with 17 points, five steals and four rebounds. Croll totaled nine points and snagged five steals, while McGee added five points and four rebounds.

Ashley Gallagher netted eight points for the Golden Flyers.

UC returns to the hardwood on next Friday night when it travels to Hoboken, N.J. for a key Empire 8 Conference contest at Stevens Institute of Technology. The first time these two teams met this season the Ducks got the better of the Pioneers by the score of 44-37 on Dec. 10th.

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