HOUGHTON, N.Y. – After playing perhaps their best opening quarter of the year, the Houghton Highlanders watched the Nazareth Golden Flyers come roaring back for the victory Wednesday night, 69-41.
 
The Highlanders opened up a 15-5 lead early in the game, as Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) scored nine points and blocked three shots in the opening frame.  The Golden Flyers, however, would score the final eight points of the quarter to pull with two.
 
Houghton shot 7 of 13 in the first quarter, but the Nazareth defense would tighten, limiting the Highlanders to only seven more field goals (16 percent shooting) for the remainder of the contest.
 
Meanwhile, Nazareth's offense also began to click, shooting 20 percent higher in the second half than they did in the first, and draining one fewer point in the third quarter (27) than they did in the first two combined (28). 
 
Game Vitals:
      >Score:  Houghton College - 41  |   Nazareth College - 69
      >Records:  Houghton College: 8-10 (2-7 Empire 8)  | Nazareth College: 13-5 (6-3 Empire 8)
      >Venue: Nielsen Center, Houghton, NY    |    Attendance: 104 
 
Clutch Performances:
The Highlanders:
      >Pipher finished the night with 13 points, six rebounds and six blocks
      >Elle Reed (Sherman, NY, Sherman Central School) chipped in 10 points
.
The Golden Flyers:
      >Sam Sorge sank 4 of 5 three point attempts, scoring 22 points and adding three assists
      >Kelly Lindsey added 16 points and 10 rebounds
       
Stat Analysis:
      >Both teams finished the night with only nine turnovers apiece.  Houghton blocked an impressive nine Golden Flyer shots.
      >Nazareth finished with advantages in points-off-turnovers (14-7), second-chance points (20-8) and rebounds (44-37).
 
Next Time Out:
Houghton stays at home for another conference rematch against Hartwick College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  The Hawks defeated the Highlanders last time out, 52-67, in Oneonta.