ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Houghton Highlanders have earned their first trip to the Empire 8 championship game, defeating the #2-seeded Nazareth Golden Flyers on their home court, 63-52.
 
Once again, the Highlanders relied heavily on their swarming defense, which has become their calling card this season.  Houghton held the high-powered Nazareth offense—which averaged over 71 points per game and shot 46 percent from the floor this season—to only 52 points and a 30.9 shooting percentage.
 
The Highlanders jumped out to an early 17-12 lead after the first quarter, before cooling slightly in the second 10 minutes.  At the half, Houghton led by only three points, 27-24.
 
But the Highlanders began to flex their muscles in the third, building their lead to as many as 15 points before a Nazareth 7-0 run closed out the quarter with Houghton up by eight points.
 
After an early Houghton flourish in the opening minutes of the final quarter, the Golden Flyers began to chip away at the Highlanders lead.  With less than five minutes to play, Nazareth's Olivia Dobrovosky hit a pair of free throws to cut the Houghton lead to only five points.
 
But a layup by Crysta LaCrosse, and a clutch three from Marley Drake, sent the Highlanders on a 9-0 run, from which the Golden Flyers would never recover.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: #3 Houghton – 63 | #2 Nazareth – 52
Records: #3 Houghton: 23-4 | #2 Nazareth: 22-4  
Venue: Kidera Gymnasium, Nazareth College | Attendance: 490

NOTABLE STATS
>> While the Highlanders defeated the Golden Flyers 12 days ago in the Nielsen Center, tonight's victory is the first time they have claimed victory in Kidera Gymnasium since December 7, 2012.
 
>> The last time Houghton's women's basketball team played in a conference championship game was 2000-2001 when the Highlanders won the Northeast Atlantic Conference (NAIA) title and advanced to the NAIA Tournament.
 
>> First-team all-conference selection, Kayla Camacho, posted her second double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.  She reached double-digit points for the 23^rd time this season.
 
>> LaCrosse went 7-of-12 from the floor for a team-high 17 points, while Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, Trinity Copeland, pulled down seven rebounds and picked up three steals.  Abby Guiher nailed 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and added a free throw for 10 points.
 
>> Dobrovosky led the Golden Flyers with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Tonight was such a fun win.  Our girls decided from the minute we got onto the bus that we were going to love each other and compete for each other.
 
"We battled injuries and foul trouble all game long.  Everyone from top to bottom stepped up and got it done tonight.
 
"I don't have many words to say [except] that I'm proud and I love my team.
 
"We aren't done yet.  I'm excited to prepare at practice for the championship game!" – Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders advance to the Empire 8 championship game at St. John Fisher University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The top-seeded Cardinals advanced by defeated the fourth-seeded Hartwick Hawks, 62-50.