Box Score For the second straight season the Nichols women's basketball team has advanced to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals with a 78-58 victory over the University of New England on Tuesday night. The Bison will face Colby-Sawyer, the top seed in the North Division, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. After a shaky first half, Nichols came out strong in the second half, out-scoring the Nor'easters 47-33. Sophomore MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, NJ) and freshman Curtia Humbert (Bridgeport, CT) led the Bison with 17 points each in the win.

Both team started out cold in the first half as UNE went just 8-34 from the floor for 24 percent to Nichols 11-37 shooting for 30 percent. A 22-8 run by the Bison flipped an early 10-5 lead by UNE to a nine point lead, 29-20, for Nichols with 5:14 left until halftime. Skarzenski capped off the drive with her first of three threes on the night. The Nor'easters were able to drop the lead down to six, 31-25, by the half.

Nichols heated up in the second half, shooting 58 percent as Skarzenski, Humbert and senior Stacey Hejwosz (Dudley, MA) took over. The backcourt trio combined to score 32 points off 13-21 shooting, including 5-7 from downtown. Skarzenski's third trey of the night followed by a fast break lay-up by Hejwosz and a three by sophomore Christina Hebert (Johnston, RI) gave Nichols its largest lead of the game, 76-51, with just 2:47 left. A three by UNE junior Sam Robbins (New Paltz, NY) ended the game with a 20 point margin.

UNE ends its season 13-13 overall. Freshman Katie Diggins (Merrimack, NH) posted a double-double for the Nor'easters with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Sophomore Sara Pelkey (Barre, VT) led UNE with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds. Junior Marissa Hesketh (Tolland, CT) hauled down ten rebounds and tossed in eight points as well. Overall, UNE out-rebounded Nichols 53-47.

Nichols improves to 17-9 on the year. Skarzenski added six rebounds and six assists to her totals while Humbert tallied five rebounds, four steals and three assists as well. Hejwosz finished with 13 points off 4-9 shooting. Freshman Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, MA) held her own down low, recording her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Samantha Foote (Schuylerville, NY) played a key defensive role in the victory as well with nine rebounds and five blocks off the bench.

During the regular season, Nichols was defeated by Colby-Sawyer 52-46 on its home court. Last season, the Bison fell in overtime to Endicott in the CCC semifinals.