Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. – Senior captain Devon Spirka (Wilmington, Vt.) scored a game-high 13 points in Nichols College's 60-46 loss at Roger Williams University Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action.

Junior Amber Litwinko (Berlin, Conn.) added 12 points and eight boards as the Bison slipped to 9-8 on the season (4-6 CCC). The Bison outrebounded the Hawks (14-4, 9-2 CCC) 36-27 but could not overcome 24 turnovers.

Roger Williams was led by senior Ari Renwick (Westwood, Mass.) with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go along with seven steals. Sophomore Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) chipped in with 15 points as the Hawks shot 46 percent from the floor (22-of-48).

The two teams traded baskets throughout the first half. After a slow start for both sides, a steal by Renwick for a layup put the Hawks on the board at the 18:36 mark. Nichols responded quickly on a made jumper by Spirka. Another steal by Renwick lead to an Ariola layup, but Nichols answerd on the next possession with a jumper by sophomore Jessica Kelliher (Marshfield, Mass.).

At the 16:10 mark, Ariola sunk a three-pointer to put the Hawks up 7-4, but the Hawks were unable to capitalize on their next few possessions, and a layup by Nichols senior Kasey Pelletier (Dunstable, Mass.) cut the lead to one.

The Hawks kept the pressure up on defense with a 1-2-2 press that resulted in another steal and made jumper for Renwick that give the Hawks a 9-8 lead. Nichols responded with a 7-0 run to put it up 15-10 late in the half, but a key three by sophomore Rachel Battista (Johnston, R.I.) cut the Nichols lead back to two as the teams continued to trade baskets.

The Hawks eventually went to the locker room with a 23-22 lead. Renwick proved to be a spark the Hawks with both her offense and defense with five steals and eight points in the half.

A triple by Renwick at the 19:25 mark of the second half sparked a 9-0 run by the Hawks that put them up by 10. The Bison cut the lead to eight with 7:41 left in the game on a layup by Litwinko, but they could get no closer than seven as consecutive baskets by sophomore forward Shannon Cullen (Walpole, Mass.), junior Amanda Keane (Wilmington, Mass.), and senior Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.) put the Hawks up 52-42.

Roger Williams sealed the win when Nichols reached the foul limit and sent Ariola and Renwick to the line, where they went a combined 4-for-4 to give the Hawks a 60-45 lead.

Nichols hosts Salve Regina Saturday at noon. The Hawks play at Western New England Saturday at 1 p.m.

Contributions from Roger Williams sports information