Women's Basketball | 1/5/2010 7:53:00 PM

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PITTSFORD, NY – The RIT women's basketball team defeated Nazareth College 72-60 in Empire 8 action on Tuesday night. The win improves RIT to 5-4 on the season and, more importantly, 1-2 in the Empire 8. The win was the first for the Tigers over Nazareth since 2007-08.

RIT led by six at the break, closing out the half on a 26-14 run leading 36-30 at the break.

#Brianna O'Dell (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenedehowa) and Anne Wapshare (Blasdell, NY/Immaculata Academy) led RIT with nine points apiece in the first half. (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius)Sharon Dennis (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) added seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds. (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius)Shelby Vakiener (Fairport, NY/Fairport) scored six points off the bench and (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius)Danielle Furman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport)# dished out five assists.

RIT built a 10-point lead midway through the second half on a three-pointer from O'Dell giving the Tigers a 53-43 lead. The Tigers led by as many as 15 points in the second half, shooting 48 percent from the floor.

O'Dell and Dennis led RIT offensively. O'Dell score 20 points off the bench, shooting 6-11 from the floor including three three-pointers. Dennis chipped in 22 points, including 15 in the second half. She also grabbed 19 rebounds had three steals and two blocks.

Vakiener scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench for RIT, while Furman had two points and eight assists.

It was RIT's first action in 2010, as the Tigers defeated Wentworth Tech back on December 13 to close out the 2009 portion of the schedule.

RIT is off until January 12 when they begin play in the Wendy's College Classic.