DUDLEY, Mass. (12/2/23) -  The Nichols College women's basketball team opened conference play in style, storming back from behind to earn a 103-90 victory over Curry College on Saturday afternoon inside a packed Nichols Athletic Center.  

With the win, the Bison improve to 4-2 (1-0 CCC) overall, while Curry falls to 4-2 (0-1 CCC) with the loss.

The 103 points matches the Bison's all-time single-game high, which was set on January 18^th against Salve Regina (103-94 W) in 2022.  It was also a notable night for senior guard Abriana Vazquez, who logged a season-best 37 points with five steals, and three assists through 34 minutes on the floor. Kiera Fernandes scored 16 points and eight steals, while both Leanda Ortiz and Summer Klein contributed 14 points apiece. Nichols scored 47 points off turnovers, for which they forced 57, and shot 34-of-90 (37.7%) from the field.

The Colonels were in command early on as they raced out of the gate to a sizable 19-2 advantage.  However, still with five minutes to go in the quarter, Nichols eventually found their offensive groove and battled back with a 10-4 run to pull within 11 points at 23-12. Entering the second quarter, Nichols had narrowed the deficit down to eight points, and trailed Curry by a 29-21 score.

 Curry continued to deliver offensively through the opening five minutes of the second, but the Bison ended the half on a very high note. Beginning at the 1:55 mark, Nichols scored nine consecutive points, including a pair of three-pointers from Vazquez, en route to a 14-4 run to close out the frame. At the break, the Bison trailed the Colonels by a 49-45 score.

Nichols claimed their first lead of the night off a 7-0 run to open the third quarter, but it would be short lived as Curry matched the feat at the other end of the court. With 4:26 remaining, Curry held on to a 64-59 lead, but quickly lost their grasp as the Bison scored another 9-0 run to make it 68-64 Nichols. Entering the final quarter, both teams found themselves deadlocked at 72-72.

The official turning point in the final quarter came between the 9:35 and 5:35 marks, where Nichols pulled away for good with a 14-5 run. This time, the difference proved enough for the Bison, who walked off the court happy with a 13-point triumph.

The Bison square off against Western New England University (5-3, 1-1 CCC) at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, December 5^th right back at the Nichols Athletic Center.