Box Score WESTFIELD, Mass. (Dec. 2) – Nichols College senior forward Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) scored her 1,000th career point Thursday evening as the Bison were edged late at Westfield State in non-conference women's basketball action. Nelson recorded a double-double in the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds, hitting the scoring milestone from the free-throw line late in the second half.

Nichols (2-4) jumped out to a 10-5 lead just past the five minute mark of the first half thanks in part to six points from Nelson who finished the stanza with eight.

Westfield State (5-2) took its first lead on a Cassy Jouannet layup at 13:34 before Nelson tied the game at 12-12 with a jumper on the next possession. But the Owls then held the Bison scoreless over the next 5:49 while pouring in 13 points to take a commanding lead.

Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass.) started a Bison comeback with a layup and totaled six points in the final seven minutes while the Nichols team held Westfield to 3-of 13 shooting to keep the game close at the break, 32-25 Westfield State.

The Bison came storming out to start the second half, opening the frame on a 9-2 run to bring the game to within two at 34-32 at 16:56 on a Robidoux three-pointer. Westfield extended its lead back to seven by the 13:09 mark with a 45-38 advantage, but Nelson capped a 10-3 Nichols run with a jumper at 7:29 to tie the game at 48-48. Lena Fracassini (Bridgeport, Conn.) had four points, a steal and an assist in the spree.

Nelson sank her 1,000th career point from the free-throw line to give Nichols the lead, 49-48, after over two minutes of scoreless play at 5:23.

After Jouannet hit a pair of free throws to put Westfield back in the lead, Robidoux sank a three-pointer to give Nichols a 52-50 advantage, but a 10-0 Owls run over the final 2:32 of the half sealed the game.

Robidoux joined Nelson in double digit scoring with 12, while Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, Mass.) recorded a game-high five steals to go with five rebounds. Fracassini finished with six points.

Ashley Finnegan led Westfield with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Jouannet also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

Nichols concludes its road trip Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Suffolk.

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