DUDLEY, MASS. (12/5/23) – The Nichols College women's basketball team fell to Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Western New England University by a score of 104-84 on Tuesday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.

With the loss, the Bison drop to 4-3 (1-1 overall), while the Golden Bears improve to 6-3 (2-1 CCC).

Nichols saw another five players score in double figures in the effort, and were led by senior Abrianna Vazquez's 24 points, five steals and three assists. Summer Klein and Kiera Fernandes each contributed 15 points apiece, while Leandra Ortiz scored 13. Adriana Romano completed the double-digit scorers with 12 points on the night. As a team, the Bison shot 26-of-76 (34.2%) from the field.

Nichols started out hot with a 9-4 lead through the opening three minutes of play, but the Golden Bears returned the favor with a 9-3 run to take their first lead of the game at 14-12. The remainder of the first quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the two clubs, with Nichols holding a slight 27-22 advantage entering the second.

To open the second quarter, Western New England turned the tides with a sizeable 10-0 run, putting themselves ahead by a 32-27 score. Adriana Romano broke the silence for the Bison with a two-point jumper inside the paint at the 6:15 mark, which sparked some competitive play throughout the midway point of the frame. However, a late 10-1 run by Western New England boosted their lead to a 12-point difference, which shrank down to 11-points at the half by a 53-42 score.

 The Golden Bears continued to match the Bison up and down the court in the third quarter, with their lead growing back up to 12-points at the start of the fourth (78-66). Despite holding their own against the Bears up to that point, the Bison appeared to had run out of gas in the final quarter, resulting in the 104-84 setback.

The Bison remain home for their next matchup against non-conference opponent Wellesley College on Friday, December 8^th at 7:00 PM.