HOUGHTON, NY— For the second time in only three days the Houghton Highlanders avenged an earlier season loss with an upset victory, this time taking down the Nazareth Golden Flyers, 62-54, for the Highlanders' 20^th win of the season, the first time they have accomplished that feat in 25 years.
 
Through the first 23 minutes it looked like the Highlanders would run away with the game, building a 16-point lead at the half, and pulling ahead by as many as 18 early in the second.  But the Golden Flyers fought all the way back, eventually tying the game, 50-50, with only four minutes to play in the final quarter.
 
With the game still knotted, 52-52 with 2:25 left to play, Kayla Camacho sank the front end of a pair of free throws, and Tabitha DeVries followed with a layup and a three-point play on the Highlanders next two possessions to put them back in the driver's seat.
 
As time wound down, Camacho and Marley Drake both hit pairs of free throws to ice the game.
 
The win puts the Highlanders in prime position to bring home the number-two seed in this year's Empire 8 conference tournament.  To do so, the Highlanders will need to win both of their remaining two games (Hartwick and Russell Sage), and Nazareth will have to lose to St. John Fisher in the season finale.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 62 | Nazareth – 54
Records: Houghton: 20-3 (11-3 Empire 8) | Nazareth: 21-3 (13-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 513

NOTABLE STATS
>> With the win, the Highlanders have crossed the 20-win threshold for the first time since 1998-99, when they finished 24-6, won the conference and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament.
 
>> While the Golden Flyers dominated the boards, 50-to-36, the turnover differential tipped heavily in Houghton's favor, 23-to-11, including 18 of Nazareth's turnovers forced by steal.  The Highlanders also scored 17 points off turnovers, compared to only seven for the Golden Flyers.  Opposing teams have committed 20 or more turnovers in 17 of the Highlanders' 23 games this season.
 
>> In her final regular season home game, Kayla Camacho led the Highlanders with 22 points and six rebounds, the sixth time this year she has scored at least 20 points in a game.  So far, she leads the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game.
 
>> Fellow Houghton seniors, Trinity Copeland, Carlee Miller and Hannah Roeske, all played contributing roles in tonight's victory.  Copeland scored six points, pulled down six rebounds, dished out four assists, and collected seven steals.  Miller posted four points and two steals, while Roeske made the only shot she took for two points.
 
>> DeVries finished with 12 points, while Crysta LaCrosse chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and two assists. 
 
COACH'S CORNER
"What a rewarding way to end the week for our seniors on Senior Day.  I am so thankful for Trinity [Copeland], Kayla [Camacho], Carlee [Miller] and Hannah [Roeske] for all of the hard work this season, and their careers at Houghton.  They have made this program what it is right now.  Having said that, we have a lot more time together this year, and I'm looking forward to keeping the momentum going with them and [the rest of] this group.
 
"I'm very proud of our determination and competitiveness.  One of the first comments when we got into the locker room was how excited the group was to keep getting better together, and to use this as momentum heading into next week and the playoffs.
 
"I'm also proud of how well we defended and took care of the basketball.  Those are two things that are not easy in this game, but our group tends to make it look easy on a nightly basis.
 
"I can't wait to keep getting better on Monday.  Next week is no easy feat, as we play on the road twice.  We need to come ready to go!" – Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will spend their final two regular season games on the road, first travelling to Oneonta on Wednesday to take on the Hartwick Hawks at 5:30 pm., then closing out the regular season in Albany, where they will play the Russell Sage Gators on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.