Women's Basketball Drops Sixth Straight

DUDLEY, Mass. (Dec. 7) – A quick start out of the gates for the Nichols College Bison was too much for a spirited Rivier College Raiders second half comeback as the Bison came away with a 69-56 non-conference women's basketball victory Tuesday evening. The win snaps a four-game skid for the BIson, who improve to 3-5 on the season. The Raiders fall to 1-6.

The night began by honoring Nichols senior Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) for reaching the 1,000 point plateau on December 2nd. She continued to be the star of the night, finishing with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Along with Nelson, senior Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.), who had five assists in the first half, led Nichols to an early nine point lead at 15-6 just over eight minutes into the frame.

Rivier closed the gap briefly, but a pair of free throws by Bison freshman Kasey Pellitier (Dunstable, Mass.) began a 10-2 run by Nichols which made the score 28-16. The Bison would continue to pull away by the end of the first, taking a 16 point lead into halftime.

That lead would increase to 20 early in the 2nd half, but Rivier junior Amandra Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) did her best to keep the Raiders in the game. She hit back-to-back threes to cut the Bison lead to 14 with 16:54 remaining, and increased her point total to 13 on the night. She would finish the night with a 16 point, 10 assist double-double.

The Bison eventually got their lead back up to 19, but a 9-0 run by the Raiders closed the gap to 10 with 11:26 remaining in the game. Although the Raiders would get to within seven points with 5:35 left in the game, the early dominance by the Bison would be too great for Rivier to overcome.

Robidoux joined Nelson in double-digit scoring with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.) added 10 points and seven steals while Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, Mass.) came close as well with nine points and nine rebounds on the night.

Rivier senior Steph Adams (Nashua, N.H.) chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Turnovers proved to be an issue for both teams, but it was the Bison who controlled the ball better by game's end. The Raiders turned the ball over 30 times to the Bison's 24.

Nichols will take the court again Saturday, December 11 at 4:30 when they host Johnson & Wales. Rivier will host Newbury College on Thursday, December 9 at 7 p.m.