DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 24) – Led by a career-high 31 points from junior guard Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.), the Nichols College women's basketball team held on to defeat Connecticut College, 80-73, in non-conference action Tuesday night. Robidoux sank six of eight three-pointers and shot 56% from the field while filling the stat sheet for Nichols with six rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocks. She is the first Nichols player to net 30+ points since the 2004-05 season, when Heather Clarke posted 33 against Anna Maria on January 25, 2005.

Nichols (2-2) also received a career-high performance from junior forward Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.), who put up 23 points, including 11 of 12 free throws with a pair to help put away the game in the waning seconds.

Connecticut College (1-2) was paced by a double-double from senior forward Rita Holak, who pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 18 points off the bench. Jenn Shinall added a team-high 21 points, while sister Jacqueline Shinall dished out a game-high seven assists. Overall, the Camels' bench produced almost half of their points with 32.

The scoring was slow to start, but the Bison built up a 12-point lead just past the midway mark on a pair of free throws from Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.). The Camels closed the gap with an 11-3 run late in the frame, but Nelson closed the half with a pair of free throws and a jumper to give the Bison a 34-25 advantage at the break.

Nichols' lead hovered around the 10-point margin until late in the second half when the Bison couldn't convert on a series of free throws with just over a minute to play. Holak used the momentum to ice a pair of jumpers to cut the Bison's lead to seven, before Jen Shinall landed a three-pointer to make it 71-67 Nichols with 43 seconds left.

After Robidoux hit one of two from the line, Jacqueline Shinall responded with the same and then nailed a layup to bring Connecticut College within two, but the Bison got their groove back at the line to hit eight of 10 down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

Nichols finished the night shooting 64.7% from beyond the arc and 47.1% overall while holding the Camels to 37.1% from the floor. Connecticut College dominated the paint, outscoring Nichols, 36-14, down low, and scored 14 points on fast breaks.

The Bison are now idle until Tuesday, December 1, when they host Fitchburg State in a 7 p.m. home game. Connecticut College hosts Western Connecticut State University in a 7 p.m. game at Luce Fieldhouse the same night. 

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