NAZARETH DEFEATS UMASS.-BOSTON, 60-51
• BOXSCORE | UPDATED STATS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 30, 2004) -- Sophomore guard Sarah Homer (pictured) equaled a career-high with 17 points and senior Jaimee McGivern added 15 points as Nazareth resumed its 2004-05 women's basketball season with a 60-51 non-conference victory over UMass-Boston. The game, played at Embry-Riddle College in Florida, was the first of two for the Golden Flyers this week. Nazareth plays Clarkson University Friday at 12 p.m.

Against UMass-Boston, the Golden Flyers (4-1 overall) struggled for much of the first half before securing control. They trailed by as many as 11 poinits in the first half before rallying to take a 32-31 lead at the break. McGivern's basket with :02 left in the half gave Nazareth the one-point halftime lead and the Golden Flyers never trailed after that.

Nazareth opened the second half by scoring the first eight points -- a basket and a pair of free throws by Kate Gagliardi and field goals by Cassie Denniston and McGivern -- to go ahead 40-31. Nazareth stayed ahead thanks to seven second-half free throws from senior Nicole Denniston. Nazareth led by as much as 13 points, 56-43, late in the second half.

Homer made 7 of 12 shots from the field, including three three-point baskets. She also had four steals. Junior Jaci Borsos had nine points and sophomore point guard Cassie Denniston contributed six assists.

The Golden Flyers played without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Sara Shipley (15.3 ppg.), who sat out with flu-like symptoms.