BRISTOL, R.I. – Sophomore Anna McDaniel (Taunton, Mass.) scored 14 points for the Nichols College women's basketball team, which was defeated by Roger Williams University 59-53 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Wednesday night at the Recreation Center Gymnasium.
 
Juniors Allison Cerrato (Rockland, Mass.) and Brooke Packard (Dudley, Mass.) each chipped in with eight points for the Bison, who shot 38 percent both from the field but managed just two trips to the free throw line (making both). Nichols was outrebounded 47-36 yet managed to put a scare into the unbeaten Hawks until the final buzzer.
 
Senior Bridget Quilty (Duxbury, Mass.) led all student-athletes with 19 points (8-of-16 FG) while freshman Sam Leone (Ashland, Mass.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Roger Williams shot 33 percent and made just 56 percent of its free throws (10-of-18).
 
Leone scored five points in the opening quarter to help the Hawks open up a 17-13 lead. The Bison bounced back in the second quarter and closed the halftime gap to 28-27. Cerrato led NC with six points in the first half while junior Anna Walther (Northampton, Mass.) paced the Hawks with eight points.
 
Leone canned a three at 7:04 of the third quarter as RWU opened up an eight-point lead (37-29). In the fourth, a pair of free throws from senior Brittany Donovan (Newport, R.I.), followed by a jumper by McDaniel with 3:29 to go, brought the Bison to within one at 54-53.
 
The Hawks answered with a pair of free throws at the other end to regain a three-point lead, and the Bison went scoreless on their next three possessions. Quilty finally made them pay with a layup with 30 seconds to go, which stretched the lead to five.
 
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marks the 45th all-time meeting between Nichols College and Roger Williams University. The Hawks have won the last 15 meetings and now lead the series, 28-17.
 
Next Games
Nichols (2-15, 2-9 CCC) – Saturday, January 28 vs Gordon, 2:00 p.m.
Roger Williams (13-4, 11-0 CCC) – Saturday, January 28 vs Eastern Nazarene, 1:00 p.m.