DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College women's basketball team was defeated by the United States Coast Guard Academy, 61-48, on Thursday night in a non-conference matchup at the Nichols Athletic Center in Dudley, Mass.
 
The Bison dip to 3-12 on the season, while the Bears climb over .500 in moving to 8-7. Nichols returns to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Saturday night when they host Roger Williams University at 5:30 p.m.
 
Freshman Isabella Nerney paced the Bison with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while senior Allison Cerrato added 12 points and eight rebounds in the setback. Freshman Desiree Riveracame off the bench to score six points, while classmate Shannon St. Lawrence pulled in seven rebounds to go with five points and a pair of steals. Junior Callie Andrews handed out a game-high four assists as well.
 
Coast Guard was led by a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, three blocks and three assists from senior Gillian Gerton. Junior Micaela Martinelli scored a game-high 15 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals, while sophomore Brenna Wood joined them in double-figures with 10 points and eight boards.
 
Nichols shot 30.5% (18-of-59) from the field, 23.5% (4-of-17) from beyond the arc, and 72.7% (8-of-11) from the charity stripe in the defeat. The Bears knocked down 37.7% (23-of-61) of their shots, 17.4% (4-of-23) of their three-pointers, and 73.3% (11-of-15) of their free throws. Coast Guard held a 46-38 advantage in rebounding, and both teams struggled with turnovers as the Bears committed 19 turnovers, with the Bison turning it over 21 times.
 
The Bison fell into an early 8-2 hole, but a pair of free throws from Cerrato and a layup from the senior in the final minute made it a 12-8 deficit after one quarter of play.
 
Coast Guard opened up a 20-10 lead with 5:46 to play in the second quarter before a three-point play from Nerney trimmed the deficit to 20-13. The Bears took a 25-13 advantage on a triple from sophomore Zoe Riis-Fallica, and this time the Bison answered with a 9-0 run to pull to within 25-22 and 1:50 remaining. Coast Guard would score the final three points of the period to take a 28-22 advantage into the half.
 
A three-pointer from sophomore Jessica Larsh made it a 35-31 game with 3:17 remaining, and a jumper from Rivera got the Bison to within one possession at 37-34 with just over a minute to play in the third. After junior Johanna Moolenaar converted inside, Shannon St. Lawrence buried a triple in the closing seconds of the period to make it a 39-37 game headed into the final quarter.
 
Coast Guard opened the final frame on a 10-0 run to take a 49-37 advantage, and Cerrato ended the run with a jumper to make it a 49-39 game with 4:07 remaining. Nichols continued to hang around as a jumper from Nerney with 1:01 remaining cut the deficit to 53-45, but the Bears would knock down enough free throws down the stretch to pull out the 61-48 victory.
 
All-Time Series
Thursday night marked the 14th meeting between the two programs, and the Bears pulled even in the series (7-7) with the win.