SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior captain Alexis Wegrzynek (Wilbraham, Mass.) grabbed eight rebounds and scored eight points in Nichols College's 58-51 loss at Western New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action Thursday evening.

Classmate and fellow captain Amber Litwinko (Berlin, Conn.) poured in 19 points in 39 minutes of action as the Bison slipped to 4-7 on the season (1-4 CCC). Senior Sarah Whitestone (Dalton, Mass.) and freshman Brooke Packard (Dudley, Mass.) each chipped in with eight points.

Nichols shot 44 percent from the floor (24-of-55) and outrebounded Western New England 39-34 but committed 19 turnovers. The Bison recorded assists on 18 of their 24 field goals, led by four each from Whitestone and Wegrzynek.

Senior Samantha McCann (Warren, Mass.) and sophomore Samantha Battaini (Leominster, Mass.) each netted 12 points to pace the Golden Bears (8-2, 3-1 CCC). 

The Bison raced out to an 11-point lead (17-6) behind seven points from Litwinko and four from Whitestone. The Golden Bears closed the half on a 28-16 run to take a one-point lead to the locker room. Litwinko led all scorers with nine while Battaini and Dorothy O'Neill (Staten Island, N.Y.) each had eight for WNE.

The two schools played a fairly even second half with neither side able to take more than a one-possession lead. Late in the stanza, sophomore Emily Anderson (Rocky Hill, Conn.) sank a turnaround jumper and McCann made a layup to put the Golden Bears up 53-47 with 1:50 to go. The Bison couldn't get any closer than five points after that.

The Bison host UNE Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Golden Bears head to Quincy, Mass. for a 1 p.m. contest at Eastern Nazarene on Saturday.