ROCHESTER, NY – Following a dominant run of conference play, the SUNY Brockport women's basketball team faced a tough road test on Friday night, falling to Empire 8 rival Nazareth University, 81-65. Despite a resilient third-quarter effort, the Golden Eagles (14-7, 10-2 E8) were unable to overcome a potent offensive showing from the Golden Flyers at the Robert A. Kidera Gym.

Second Quarter Surge Propels Nazareth

Brockport entered the contest with momentum but struggled to find their rhythm early against a disciplined Nazareth defense. The Golden Eagles held their last lead of the game at the 7:53 mark of the first quarter, 4-2, following a layup by Stephanie Jean-Baptiste. From there, the Golden Flyers orchestrated a 13-4 run to close the period with a 19-14 advantage.

The decisive blow came in the second quarter, where the shooting differential shifted the game's trajectory. Nazareth's offense caught fire, shooting a blistering 10-of-17 (58.82%) from the floor as a team. In contrast, Brockport was held to just 5-of-18 (27.78%) during the same stretch. The Golden Flyers utilized this efficiency to extend their lead to 14 points by halftime, 45-31.

Impact Across the Roster

The Green and Gold saw several key individual performances as they fought to stay within striking distance:

Stephanie Jean-Baptiste set the pace for all scorers, finishing with a game-high 20 points. Her offensive production was anchored by a relentless performance at the charity stripe, where she drew consistent contact to go 9-of-12 (75%). In addition to her scoring, she hauled in five rebounds and recorded two steals in 33 minutes of action.

Mandy Brink was a pervasive force on both ends of the floor, contributing 19 points while orchestrating the offense with three assists. Her defensive pressure was a major highlight, as she disrupted the Golden Flyers with a team-high five steals. Brink was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, converting 10-of-11 attempts.

Claire Turner provided a critical interior presence, battling for a team-high six rebounds and tallying nine points. Turner was efficient in her 24 minutes, shooting 50% (4-of-8) from the floor while also contributing three steals and two assists to the defensive and playmaking efforts.

In 29 minutes of action, Brianna Carey finished with six points and four rebounds. Carey remained active in the transition game, contributing one steal and a perfect 2-for-2 mark from the free-throw line.

Peyton Maneri and Jackie Kozakiewicz rounded out the primary rotation's contributions. Maneri served as a secondary floor general, matching Brink with three assists. Off the bench, Kozakiewicz provided a spark with four points on 2-of-5 shooting, while Lila Lovgren added a triple for three points during the second-quarter stretch.

Inside the Numbers

The Golden Flyers' dominance on the glass proved to be a major factor in the outcome. Nazareth outrebounded Brockport by a 55-33 margin, including 16 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. The home team also controlled the interior, outscoring the Golden Eagles 42-32 in the paint.

While Brockport's defense forced 22 turnovers leading to 18 points, the Golden Flyers' efficiency in transition and 23 points off Brockport's 15 turnovers kept the game out of reach. The Golden Eagles finished the night shooting 29.9% (20-67) from the field and had a tough time connecting from distance, hitting just 3-of-28 (10.7%) from beyond the arc.

Up Next: The Golden Eagles will look to bounce back quickly as they continue their Rochester road swing. Brockport heads to St. John Fisher University tomorrow, Saturday, February 7th, for another crucial Empire 8 matchup, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m.