GENEVA, N.Y. -- Senior Katie Kollar scored 21 points and senior Brittany TallChief added 14 points and 12 rebounds Saturday as Nazareth salvaged a fifth-place finish in the Wendy's College Classic with a 61-56 women's basketball victory over St. John Fisher.
In the game, played at William Smith, Nazareth improved to 4-3 overall, while Fisher dropped to 3-4 overall. Nazareth is off now until Dec. 30-31 when the Golden Flyers host the Nazareth Invitational with John Jay, St. Mary's, Md. and Susquehanna also competing.
Nazareth got off to a good start against the Cardinals, jumping to a 17-4 lead following a three-pointer by Erica Shaw with 12:38 to go in the first half. Nazareth led by as many as 15 points late in the first half, before settling for a 35-22 lead at the break. Kollar scored 13 of her points in the first 20 minutes, including a pair of three-point baskets.
Fisher made a run at Nazareth in the second half, using a 15-4 scoring spurt in the first eight minutes to draw within two, 39-37. A free throw by Brittany Patenaude, another three-pointer by Kollar and baskets by TallChief and Brittany Wilson enabled Nazareth to extend the lead back to eight points at 47-39 with 8:11 left.
Fisher made another late surge and closed to within three, 57-54, on a basket by Camaryn Buckner with 1:04 left. Wilson sank two free throws with :33 left and Kollar and Becca Rumschik each hit foul shots in the closing seconds to secure the win.
Nazareth hit 20 of 61 shots overall (.328) and 16 of 22 free throws (.727) and enjoyed a 45-37 rebounding advantage. Wilson grabbed 11 rebounds to go with her 10 points and needs just five more points to reach 1,000 for her career. Kollar represented Nazareth on the all-tournament team as a second-team selection.