Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Amber Litwinko (Berlin, Conn.) recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Nichols College women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 24 University of New England before falling 68-62 on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the Nichols Athletic Center.

Sophomore Jessica Kelliher (Marshfield, Mass.) added a career-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting as the Bison slipped to 11-12 on the season and 6-10 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). Senior Devon Spirka (Wilmington, Vt.) filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals while classmate Kasey Pelletier (Dunstable, Mass.) recorded five points, two assists and one steal in her final home game for the Bison.

The Nor'easters – who are ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll – moved to 21-2 (15-1 CCC) with the win, thanks in large part to junior Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.), who scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting. The conference's second-leading scorer entering play today, Coleman also tallied seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists. Sophomore Meghan Gribbin (Windham, Maine) chipped in with 10 points and six assists.

UNE built an early 14-6 lead behind nine points from Coleman. The Bison answered with a 9-1 run and tied the game at 15 on a jumper by junior Sarah Whitestone (Dalton, Mass.). After four points each from freshmen Brooke Flaherty (Portland, Maine) and Alicia Brown (Greenland, N.H.) seemingly gave the Nor'easters control of the game at 25-17, Nichols closed the half on a 14-6 run – the final three points coming on a triple by Spirka – to send the game into halftime tied at 31. Litwinko led all scorers through the first 20 minutes with 11 points while Coleman had 10 for UNE.

While UNE took the lead for good when Coleman converted a layup 5:19 into the second half, the Bison remained within striking distance until the final horn. Coleman put her squad ahead 50-44 with a layup at 10:51, but a basket by Whitestone and a three from Spirka made it a one-point game (50-49) at 9:12. Minutes later, the Nor'easters appeared to pull away for good when they went up seven with 6:12 remaining before a jumper from Litwinko and a steal/layup from junior Alexis Wegrzynek (Wilbraham, Mass.) brought Nichols to within three (58-55) with 4:05 on the clock.

Sophomore Paige Dessureau (Barre, Vt.) made a layup at 2:46 to put the Nor'easters up eight. However, a three from Spirka and four points from Litwinko helped make it a three-point game with 15 seconds remaining. After Litwinko fouled Gribbin to stop the clock and send her to the line, she missed the front end of a one-and-one, but the Bison were unable to snare the rebound and earn a final chance to tie the game.

"This game proved that we can play with anyone in this conference," said Nichols head coach Alice Mullen. "This was a huge performance from our team heading into the playoffs. We had a lot of big efforts from a lot of different student-athletes tonight, especially Amber, who's playing out-of-her-mind right now. A few turnovers hurt us down the stretch, but overall we played a good game. We haven't been able to put a full 40-minute effort together, but we did that today, and I hope our kids see how good we can be when we do that."

The Bison outrebounded the Nor'easters 35-26 but committed 25 turnovers which led to 29 UNE points. Nichols shot 47 percent from the field – including 55 percent from long distance (6-of-11) – while UNE shot 44 percent.

The Bison head to Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest. The Nor'easters travel to Curry Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.