ROCHESTER, NY- The Utica College women's basketball team sunk 7-of-8 free throws in the final 48 seconds of regulation to down host Nazareth College 62-56 in Empire 8 Conference action Thursday evening. 
 
With the win, Utica improves to 4-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference.  Naz meanwhile is handed its first conference loss of the season as the Golden Flyers drop to 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the E8.  The Pioneers, who have won their last two Empire 8 contests look to carry their momentum into a conference clash at Elmira College on Saturday.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Despite Utica leading 32-27 at the half, the home team opened the third quarter with a 7-1 run in the first 1:59 of play to take a one-point lead.  The teams traded baskets until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.  With 1:55 remaining, Naz's Sam Sorge hit one of her seven three-pointers of the game to even the score 55-55. 
 
With just 48 seconds remaining, sophomore Rachel Hunter (West Islip, NY/West Islip) hit a pair of clutch free throws to give Utica the lead for good.  Junior Maggie Tabone (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) added three more baskets from the charity strip and freshman Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) sealed the win in the final ticks by making two free throws of her own.
 
Junior Ashley Mayo (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) led the Pioneers with 17 points on the day, marking her fourth straight outing with at least 13 points.  Classmate Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) had 13 points, while Hunter finished with ten.  Hunter also totaled a team-best seven rebounds, while Mayo dished out three assists.
 
Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) finished with nine points, six rebounds, and two assists, while Conkin totaled eight points, including 2-of-3 from three-point land.