Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Jan. 10) – A late comeback attempt by the Nichols College women's basketball team fell just short Tuesday evening as the host Bison fell to visiting Endicott, 56-51, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game at Nichols Athletic Center. Trailing by 12 points with just over two minutes left to play, Nichols came within three points, but sees its record dip to 3-8 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Endicott wins its second-straight game to improve to 6-5 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Junior forward Hayley Zophin posted a double-double for the Bison with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while first year guard/forward Alexis Wegrzynek finished just shy of a double-double with a game-high 13 points and nine rebounds to go with a game-best six steals.

Kayleen Whall led three Gulls in double-digit scoring with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Jennifer White and Samantha Crough each had 10 points and eight boards. Whall added four steals.

A dismal shooting display on both ends of the court kept the opening half close. Despite four lead changes, neither side was able to pull away, thanks in part to a combined 23 first-half turnovers. Endicott got seven points at the line during the frame to hold a 26-22 lead at the break.

In the second half, however, the Gulls rallied for a 9-for-13 effort at the free throw line, which would prove to be the difference maker down the stretch.

Nichols opened the second half with a 12-3 run to take a three-point lead within six minutes, but after neither team could find the hoop for almost two minutes, the momentum swung the other way. Endicott went on a 17-6 spree to spread the lead to 12 in the Gulls' favor with just over two minutes to play.

Zophin and Wegrzynek went to work for the Bison, netting nine points, including a Zophin layup with nine seconds left to make it 51-54 in favor of the Gulls. After a Bison foul on the next Endicott possession, however, White sank both free throws for the 56-51 final.

Endicott outrebounded Nichols, 48-42, but committed 23 turnovers to the Bison's 18, from which Nichols found 15 points. The Gulls' bench scored 31 points to Nichols' eight.

Nichols, which has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in the last seven games, will look to rebound Thursday in a 6 p.m. CCC game at Eastern Nazarene. Endicott will go for its third-straight win Thursday when the Gulls host Wentworth in a 6 p.m. CCC game.

Box Score