DUDLEY, Mass. (2/17/24) – In their final game of the 2023-24 regular season, the Nichols College women's basketball program shouldered an 82-64 loss to Roger Williams University on Saturday afternoon inside the Nichols Athletic Center.

With the loss, Nichols hangs onto sixth place in the conference standings with a 12-13 (7-9 CCC) overall record, clinching a playoff berth for the third consecutive season. Roger Williams earns the No. 3 position following the win, bringing their season record to 17-8 (12-4 CCC) overall. With the official unveiling of the postseason bracket, which is available for viewing here, the two teams will meet again on Tuesday, February 20^th for the quarterfinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Graduate Kiera Fernandes led all Bison scorers with 17 points and a game-high eight steals, while seniors Abrianna Vazquez and Summer Klein matched each other with 13 points and six rebounds apiece. Sophomore Adriana Romano also scored in double-figures with 12 points in the effort, along with four boards.

The opening quarter was a shootout that saw seven ties between the Bison and the Hawks. Trailing 24-20 at the end of the first frame, Nichols continued to go point-for-point until a Vazquez layup at 4:29 of the second tied the score at 33-33, sparking a 6-0 run that granted them just their second lead of the game at 37-33. To close out the half, however, Roger Williams collected seven of the final nine points scored to claim a razor thin, 40-39 edge over the Bison.

Out of the break, the Bison ran into some trouble as the Hawks opened with an 11-0 run to extend their lead to 51-39. Nichols countered with a 6-2 run on baskets by Vazquez and Fernandes but struggled to inch any closer as Roger Williams remained in the lead through the remaining 5:14 of the period. With one quarter to play, Nichols trailed the Hawks 61-50.

For the Bison, three of their first four baskets in the final stanza came from three-point range off shots by Fernandes, Romano and graduate Leandra Ortiz. Romano's triple was successful in bringing the guest lead back under 10 points, but the Hawks answered back with an 8-0 run to further their lead to 16 points with 2:41 to play. Roger Williams eventually played up to its largest lead of the game at 82-63, before one final Vazquez free throw finalized the score at 82-64, Hawks.

The quarterfinal round showdown between the No. 6 Bison and No. 3 Hawks will take place at the Campus Rec Center Gymnasium on the Roger Williams University campus, with tipoff slated for a 6:00 PM start.