SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Hayley Zophin (Framingham, MA) scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds as the Nichols women's basketball team earned its first win of the season with a 65-59 win over Western New England Saturday afternoon (Dec. 3) at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
The Bison are now 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Golden Bears, who had a two-game win streak ended, are 2-3 and 1-1 in conference play.
Junior guard Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, MA) and freshman guard Hannah Nolan (Billerica, MA) also scored 13 points apiece with each player also getting four rebounds and two assists.
Nichols led by as many as nine points in the opening half before taking a 28-21 advantage at the break.
The Bison twice took nine-point leads before the Golden Bears cut the margin to three at 40-37 when sophomore guard Ali Pessolano (Hampden, MA) hit a three-pointer with 12:39 left.
Nichols responded with an 8-0 run as Western New England didn't score for almost six minutes. Sophomore guard Kasey Pelletier (Dunstable, MA) made a steal and layup to give the visitors a 48-37 lead at the 7:10 mark.
The Golden Bears came back getting within 54-51 on a basket by junior center Elena Radzikowski (Medway, MA) with 2:51 remaining.
Lindgren made a layup following a blocked shot by Zophin and Nolan (who entered the game with a 4.0 scoring average) drained a clutch three-pointer (with an assist from Lindgren) to push the lead to 59-51 with 1:10 left.
Western New England again got within three at 60-57 following a pair of free throws by junior guard Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, CT) with 30.5 seconds remaining, but couldn't get any closer.
Radzikowski finished with a game-high 18 points while Proper compiled 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the third double-double of her career and first since her freshman season. Pessolano added eight points, all in the second half.
Pelletier had a fine all-around game with nine points, six steals, five assists, and five rebounds for the Bison.