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ROCHESTER, NY -- In front of nearly 600 fans as part of Women in Sports Day at the university, the RIT women's basketball team (4-15, 2-8 Empire 8) snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 61-56 win over conference rival Nazareth (8-11, 4-6 Empire 8) on Tuesday evening at Clark Gym.
RIT, who trailed by 12 points in the first half, used a 12-5 run to open the second half to tie the score at 43-43 on a layup by #
Mallory Apperson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove)#.
Apperson gave the Tigers its largest lead of the game at five points with a layup with 8:10 to play. She finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Classmate #
Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa)# made it a six-point lead for RIT with a jumper from the top of the key with five minutes remaining in regulation.
With 2:35 to play in the second half Nazareth's Danielle Chamberlain drained a three pointer to cut the lead to one point at 55-54.
On RIT's very next possession, Wheeler was fouled driving to the basket. She stepped up and calmly drained a pair of free throws to make it a three point lead for RIT.
The Golden Flyers failed to score on their next two possesions as RIT tightened its defenive pressure, forcing Nazareth into tough shots.
Apperson made one of two free throws with 46 seconds to play to make it a four point lead.
RIT shot 42.1 percent from the floor on 24-of-57 shooting. Sophomore guard #
Leslie Havens (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton)# paced the Tigers with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Wheeler finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Apperson added 11 points, including nine in the second half, and nine rebounds.
Freshman point guard #
Jess Kramer (Fayetteville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt)# scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out seven assists, and had three steals.
Brittany Wilson led Nazareth with 21 points. The Flyers fall to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in the Empire 8.
RIT returns to action next Tuesday, February 8 when the Tigers host St. John Fisher College. Tip off is at 6 p.m.
