DUDLEY, Mass. – Seniors Taylor Daniels (Dudley, Mass.) and Brittany Donovan (Newport, R.I.) combined for 24 points and eight rebounds for the Nichols College women's basketball team, which dropped its final game of the season on Saturday afternoon, a 91-59 defeat to UNE on Senior Day at the Nichols Athletic Center.
 
Daniels scored a team-high 14 points and also snared five rebounds in her final collegiate game while Donovan had 10 points and three rebounds. Freshman Mekaela Fithian-Giantonio (Plainville, Conn.) racked up 13 points, five rebounds, and three dimes while freshman Rebecca Cleary (Milford, N.H.) made her first four shots and finished with nine points and six rebounds.
 
The Nor'easters – who outscored the Bison 60-20 in the second half – were led by senior Alicia Brown (Greenland, Mass.) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She was one of four UNE student-athletes in double-figures, along with junior Sam MacDonald (Lebanon, N.H.) (16 points) and freshmen Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and Sadie Nelson (Windham, Maine), who each scored 11.
 
The Bison shot 42 percent in the first half and made nine of their 10 free throws to open up an eight-point halftime lead on the Nor'easters (39-31). Daniels made three triples and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe to lead all scorers with 14 points. Nelson paced UNE – which shot 26 percent in the opening half (8-of-31) – with eight points.  
 
UNE stormed out of the gates in the second half as Brown and MacDonald each scored 12 points. The Nor'easters shot 71 percent in the third and scored 11 points off six NC turnovers. They continued their solid play in the fourth quarter, holding the Bison to 4-of-19 shooting. Allrich scored nine in the final frame for UNE.
 
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the 27th all-time meeting between Nichols College and UNE. The Nor'easters have won the last 17 contests and lead the series, 22-5.
 
Next Games
Nichols (2-23, 2-16 CCC) – season complete
University of New England (20-5, 16-2 CCC) – Tuesday, February 21, CCC Quarterfinal, 7:00 p.m. (HOME)