UTICA, NY - The Utica College women's basketball team fought until the end in a tightly contested game against the Nazareth Golden Flyers. Nazareth was able to complete a fourth quarter comeback to upset the Pioneers at home, 67-62. 
 
Through the first 10 minutes the sides weren't separated by more than three points at any moment. The back-and-forth quarter ended with the Pioneers holding a 16-15 lead. UC and Nazareth both struggled shooting in the second quarter as both sides were under 30 percent from the field. However, the Golden Flyers were still able to creep ahead, with much thanks to a buzzer beater three entering the half, and take a 29-24 lead into the locker room. 
 
UC shook off its second quarter shooting woes with an outstanding third. Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) and Petrina DeMarco (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) were the leading scorers for the Pioneers as the team busted out for 23 points on 45 percent shooting while holding Nazareth to nine points. Utica hung on to a 47-38 lead entering the final frame. 
 
Little by little the Golden Flyers would creep back into the game. Nazareth went from down seven with under seven minutes left to owning a one point lead with 3:14 to play. Utica kept their nose within striking distance, forcing Nazareth to convert free throws to win and that they did, shooting 4-for-6 from the line in the fourth quarter to comeback and stun the Pioneers at home. 
 
Geraci shined in the heartbreaking loss setting career highs with 19 points and 18 rebounds on the night. DeMarco added 15 points, Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) 14 and Cora Sawyer (New London, CT/New London) 10. Those four players never left the court once all game. In her first career start, Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) totaled three points, six rebounds and three blocks. 
 
UC (18-4, 9-4 Empire 8) is back in action at 2 p.m. tomorrow when the team will honor its seniors prior to the game against No. 23 St. John Fisher.