Box Score PAXTON, Mass. – Senior Samantha Ashton had 20 points and five rebounds as the Anna Maria College women's basketball team defeated Nichols College by a score of 68-60 in season opening non-conference action at The Fuller Activities Center on Tuesday night.

Ashton scored her game high 20 points on 8-of- 15 shooting. Pacing the AMCATS along with Ashton was sophomore guard Liz Sama who added 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Alison McCarthy and Amanda Hevy each contributed eight points.

Junior Natalie Wilson led the Bison with a career-high 13 points, four rebounds and an assist. Senior forward Chelsea Shaughnessy also played well for Nichols chipping in seven points, with a game high 10 rebounds and five steals. Kristina Lindgren and Hannah Nolan each added seven points in the loss.

The AMCATS came out in midseason form taking a quick 7-0 lead on an Ashton basket, a 3-pointer by Liz Sama and a Chelsea Blair layup.

After a Nichols 30 second time-out AMC kept up their pace still holding a nine point lead, 15-6, at 13:30 of the first stanza. The Bison finally broke out of the stables and went on a 14-0 run to take a 20-15 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets with the Bison holding a small lead until just over a minute remaining in the half. AMC took a 32-31 lead with 1:25 left in the half but a jumper by Shaughnessy and free throws from Wilson gave the Bison a 36-32 halftime advantage.

The Bison came out strong in the second half. Wilson scored on the Bison's first possession and a 3-pointer by Lindgren gave Nichols its biggest lead of the game, 41-34. Anna Maria chipped away at the 7 point advantage with back-to-back-to-back 3 pointers by McCarthy, Hevy and Katie Pryor to take the lead for good at 47-45 with 13:55 remaining.

AMC played dominating defense once they captured the lead causing an uncharacteristic six Nichols turnovers and held the Bison to 32% shooting in the second half for the win. Anna Maria shot 44% from the field for the game and converted 9-of-22 three pointers (41%).

Anna Maria returns to action on Friday night when they travel to Becker College for game one of the Worcester City Basketball Tournament. Nichols travels to Rivier a week from tonight for a 6 p.m. game.


Story courtesy Anna Maria Sports Information

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