KEY LARGO, Fla. – The Nichols College women's basketball team posted a late rally to defeat St. Joseph's College of Maine, 58-48, and win the inaugural Key Largo Classic Sunday afternoon at Coral Shores High School. The Bison, winners of eight-straight games, were led by a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds from sophomore forward Jessica Nelson (No. Providence, R.I.), who was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Sophomore forward Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, Mass.) also posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with a pair of blocks and three assists, while tournament Most Valuable Player MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) picked up 12 points to go with eight rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.

Nichols (9-2) ended the game on a 16-0 run, spanning the last 7:54 to rally from a 48-42 deficit, taking the lead for good on a pair of Lilly free throws with 4:24 left to play. Lilly also pulled down five rebounds and posted a pair of blocks in the span.

The Bison took a seven-point lead eight minutes into the game, but a Monks' 10-2 run capped by an Ashley Geel layup at 9:27 put St. Joe's ahead by one. Nichols again climbed ahead by five before the Monks chipped away at the lead to tie the score at 27-27 headed into halftime.

The teams traded the lead six times in the second half, with the Monks leading by as many as six midway through the frame after a pair of Kayla Boston free throws.

Nichols cut the lead to four before Michele Guerin (Chicopee, Mass.) and Nelson each hit two shots from the charity stripe to knot the score with 5:16 to play. Guerin finished with eight points, three rebounds and two blocks.

St. Joseph's (7-6) was led by All-Tournament selection Meghan Daigle, who scored 19 points to go with nine rebounds.

Nichols returns home to host Union College Wednesday, January 7 at 7 p.m.

Box Score