SALEM, Mass. (Dec. 30) – The Nichols College women's basketball team fell to Hiram College, 52-49, in the consolation game of the Salem State Holiday Classic Wednesday afternoon. Nichols, which was paced by 15 points and seven rebounds from All-Tournament Team selection Jessica Nelson (North Providence), drops to 5-4 on the season, while Hiram picks up its first win of the year to improve to 1-10.

The first half was close, with the Bison pulling out to their largest lead midway through the stanza on a Nelson layup to make it 14-9. Four lead changes later, Nichols led, 24-22 at the half, thanks in part to a hefty advantage off the glass at 25-14.

Hiram scored the first five points of the second half to take a three-point lead, but Nichols put in the next six to take a three-point advantage of its own. The teams traded the lead three more times until Hiram took it back and forced Nichols to play catch-up the rest of the game. A pair of free-throws from Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) tied it up, 48-48, with just under six minutes to go, but with a one-point lead and 20 seconds left, Hiram's Brittany Mayle sank a pair from the line for the final 52-49 score.

Robidoux finished with 12 points, while Lena Fracassini (Bridgeport, Conn.) added eight. Nelson and Robidoux collected three steals each, while Fracassini added a pair.

Mayle led Hiram with 18 points, while Caitlyn Ruese and Ashley Drum each added 10.

Nichols posted a better average from the floor on the night, but didn't sink a basket from beyond the arc. Hiram came on strong off the glass in the second half to post a 37-35 rebounding advantage on the night.

The Bison return to action on Saturday, January 2, in a 1 p.m. game at Becker.

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