BIDDEFORD, Maine -- In a The Commonwealth Coast Conference regular-season finale at the Campus Center, the University of New England Nor'easters used balanced scoring to defeat the Nichols College Bison, 68-63, to end Nichols' winning streak at a program-record 21 games.

The Bison lost for the first time in TCCC play (12-1) and complete the regular season with a 22-3 mark, a program record for wins in a season. Nichols, which earned the No. 1 seed for the tournament for the first time in program history -- will entertain No. 8 Curry College on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) scored a game-high 16 points for the Bison.  Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) chipped in with 14, and MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) tallied 11 points and shared the team-high of eight boards with teammate Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, Mass.). With 1,272 career points, Skarzenski now stands fourth in Nichols' all-time scoring charts.

After an opening 16 minutes that featured 12 lead-changes and four ties, UNE grabbed a lead they would not relinquish with a 7-0 run (29-22). Sophomore forward Chelsey Meszaros accounted for all seven of the points - her total for the game.

Nichols would respond in the final three minutes of the half with a 7-1 surge to close the gap to one (30-29) before finishing the frame trailing by three (32-29).

The Nor'easters led by no less than three the whole second half, extending their cushion to as many as 11 (58-47) with 3:27 remaining.

Senior Alli Gamache and first-year Kelley Paradis paced UNE with 12 points apiece.  Gamache also dished out seven assists.  Sophomore Carrie Bunnell added 11 points and matched first-year Hillary Laferriere with a team-high eight rebounds.

The Nor'easters finish the regular season with an overall record of 19-6 and a conference mark of 12-1.  The 19-win total is UNE's highest since the 1989-90 season.  UNE enters the TCCC Tournament as the third seed and will host No. 6 Western New England College Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Campus Center.  

Story courtesy UNE Sports Information

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