NEWPORT, R.I. - Trailing by one at intermission after a first half that featured a dozen lead changes and three ties, Nichols College opened the second half scoring with a 3-pointer from junior forward Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, Mass.) and never trailed again as the Bison defeated Salve Regina University, 67-56, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action. Lilly finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points to go with 12 rebounds and four assists, and was one of four Bison players to reach double figures in scoring.

Nichols (13-3; 4-0 TCCC) won its 12th straight game while shooting over 54% in the second half. Sophomore forward Jessica Nelson (No. Providence, R.I.) led all scorers with 16 points. Her classmate Michele Guerin (Chicopee, Mass.) came off the bench to contribute 13 points and five assists.

A 3-pointer by Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) gave the visitors a 10-point lead (44-34) with 11:18 remaining in the second half. Seahawk senior guard Allegra Lovoy hit a pair of free throws to finish an 8-0 run that pulled Salve Regina within two points with just under nine minutes remaining.

Senior guard MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) ball-faked and hit a jumper to start a 9-0 run for the Bison. Robidoux finished with 11 points while Lilly added 10 points and 12 boards, and Skarzenski had eight points and six assists.

Lovoy led Salve Regina (9-6; 2-2 TCCC) with 15 points and six assists, leaving her just 16 assists shy of the school record (458 - Janine Mazzie '00). Lindsay Shorey and Erin Phillips scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Seahawks.

Nichols hosts Colby-Sawyer on Saturday (1 p.m.) while Salve Regina travels to Springfield, Mass., for a TCCC contest with Western New England (1 p.m.).

Story courtesy Salve Regina Sports Information

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