ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University women's basketball team fell to Nazareth University 81-45 on Tuesday night in an Empire 8 matchup. 
 
Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) led the squad with 11 points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal. McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) played phenomenal, dropping eight points and grabbing eight rebounds including three offensive boards which gave the team plenty of second chance scoring opportunities.
 
Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) and Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) each filled out the stat sheet with Burchhardt scoring three points with two assists and Geraci scoring three points with five rebounds. Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) poured in seven points and tied Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) for the team lead with two steals. Halvarson also added two rebounds and three assists in the outing.
 
It was a back-and-forth battle to begin the first quarter with the teams exchanging buckets until Nazareth grabbed an early 8-5 edge at the 6:45 mark. The Golden Flyers went on a scoring run to open a 16-5 advantage, yet Utica would respond well. A Hanna Godkin (Clifton Springs, NY/Midlakes) jumper and Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) three-pointer put the Pioneers within striking distance, yet Nazareth closed out the frame with a 20-10 advantage.
 
The Golden Flyers struck first to begin the second quarter, yet Godkin responded with a layup off a nice feed from Hope Halvarson (Cranston, RI/Cranston East). Nazareth had another brief scoring run, yet a Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) triple cut the lead to single digits as the Pioneers trailed just 26-15 at the 7:43 mark. Utica started to get more buckets by forcing the ball inside as McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook), Krissy Geraci (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia), and Vanessa Hall (Whitesville, NY/Whitesville Central) all recorded layups in the frame, but Nazareth took a 39-22 edge into the half.
 
Both teams played strong defense for the first few minutes of the frame, not allowing a bucket. Nazareth struck first with a 4-0 run, yet Hall nailed a jumper to stop the run. The Pioneers continued to work the ball inside effectively creating plenty of scoring opportunities. Halvarson followed suit and canned both of her free throws with Julia Rotando (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) splashing a jumper during the quarter. The Golden Flyers led 60-28 going into the final quarter of play.
 
Rotando kept her hot hand going into the fourth hitting a three-pointer to begin the frame. She continued to be the face of the offense as she knocked down a pair of free throws and was attacking the paint with force. Emma Simmons (Unadilla, NY/Sidney Central) and Halvarson each scored a layup with McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) scoring five points including a converted and-one at the end of the quarter, yet Nazareth took this conference matchup 81-45.
 
Utica (4-8, 1-2 Empire 8) will host Keuka College on Saturday, January 13 at 2 p.m.