DUDLEY, Mass. — The Nichols College women's basketball team defeated Plymouth State, 66-54, in the opening round of the ECAC Division III New England Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Wednesday evening. Senior point guard MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J) led the Bison to their first round win with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

The Bison (24-4) took an 11-point lead early, 17-6, with 12 minutes to go in the first half, after a layup by freshman Lena Fracassini (Bridgeport, Conn.). Plymouth State worked its way back the remainder of the half, and cut the deficit to six off a jumper from sophomore Amanda Kania and ended the half down 28-22. Kania had a double-double of her own, scoring 13 points and grabbing 17 boards.

Plymouth State (16-11)opened the second half by bringing the Bison's lead down to four off a pair of free throws from junior Laura Kent. Nichols came back with a 14-4 run of their own, capped off by two free throws from sophomore Michele Guerin (Chicopee, Mass.), pushing the lead back up to 14 midway through the second half.

The Panthers cut the lead down to six with a minute and a half to go, but did not get any closer after that, as Nichols scored the last six points of the game.

The Bison were led by Skarzenski's double-double, as well as a 14 point, six rebound performance from sophomore Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.). Sophomore Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) pulled down 12 boards, leading the Bison in rebounding. Nichols outrebounded the Panthers 55-33 in the game, the largest margin of the season for Nichols.

Kania's double-double carried the Panthers in the loss, as well as a 16 point, four rebound game from Kent before she fouled out with four minutes to go.

With the win, Nichols advances to ECAC New England semifinals for the second time in program history, and will host the #4 Keene State on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in Dudley, Mass. The game can be heard live on WNRC 97.5-FM and online at http://www.live365.com/stations/wnrc?site=pro.

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