DUDLEY, Mass. (Feb. 20) – The Nichols College women's basketball team is returning to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship Tournament Tuesday after a two-year hiatus as the eighth-seeded Bison will travel to top-seeded University of New England for a 7 p.m. quarterfinal matchup in Biddeford, Maine.

The last and only postseason meeting between the Nor'easters and the Bison was in the 2006-07 CCC quarterfinals, a 78-58 Nichols win in Dudley. Nichols has won its last four CCC quarterfinal appearances dating back to 2006, but UNE has won the last five meetings between the two teams overall, including the two regular-season matchups this year.

The Nor'easters came away from Dudley with a 65-35 win on January 14th in the teams' first meeting this season. Just a week and a half ago in Biddeford, UNE won its 12th of its last 13 games with a 74-39 victory over Nichols.

Junior forward Hayley Zophin has fared well against UNE, with a double-double in the first game of the year and six points and six rebounds in the second matchup. Senior forward Chelsea Shaughnessy, one of the top defensive threats in the league, recorded eight steals in the home game against the Nor'easters and led the Bison in points in the game in Maine.

Zophin and junior guard Kristina Lindgren lead the Bison in scoring this season, as Zophin is having a breakout year as the team's top rebounder. Shaughnessy broke the College's single-season steals record with 113 through 25 games, and also ranks among the league's best in blocks.

Sophomore guard Kasey Pelletier is the team's top playmaker and has traded time at point guard with first year Sarah Whitestone since a three-game break with injury. Whitestone has proven effective both in a starting and off the bench role, and can command the floor with poise.

Other notable newcomers include starter Alexiz Wegrzynek, whose tenacity on both ends of the court has added spark to the Bison, and Carly Turpel, whose long range threat has stymied many defenses.

The Bison defense has held opponents to under 60 points in 11 of 25 games this season, including a stretch of seven games early in the year and in seven of 18 conference games.

Ranked second in the Northeast in the most recent NCAA Regional Poll, University of New England is 21-4 and on a seven-game win streak. The Nor'easters have four players averaging more than 10 points per game, and are led by senior guard Kelley Paradis (13.2 ppg). Junior forward Beth Suggs is a threat on both ends with 8.6 rebounds and 12.1 points per game.

Fans who can't make it to Biddeford Tuesday can follow the action online with Live Video and Live Stats.

Check out the Bison's Championship Central Page for all your postseason info needs.