WORCESTER, Mass. – Nichols College freshman Isabella Nerney knocked down four three-pointers to score a career-high 12 points, but the Bison fell at Clark University 51-43 on Saturday afternoon in women's basketball action at the Kneller Athletic Center.
 
Nerney also pulled in six rebounds to go with three assists for Nichols (2-5). Senior Allison Cerrato just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Jessica Larsh and senior Brooke Packard each scored eight points and had four assists apiece.
 
Clark (5-3) was led by 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals from freshman Idalis Miranda. Junior Ogechi Ezemma added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks, while classmate Rachael Chen recorded eight points and five rebounds.
 
The Bison shot 16-of-49 (32.7%) from the field, 6-of-18 (33.3%) from beyond the arc, and knocked down all five of their free throws in the setback. The Nichols defense held Clark to 13-of-50 (26%) shooting on the day, including 3-of-10 (30%) on three-pointers, but the Cougars did all of their damage at the free throw line knocking down 22-of-30 (73.3%) of their freebies. Nichols held a slight 37-36 advantage in rebounds, but committed 21 turnovers to 16 for the hosts.
 
Nichols opened the game on a 6-0 run as Packard converted back-to-back layups after a pair of Cerrato free throws with 6:59 to play in the quarter. Clark answered with a run of its own, outscoring the Bison 13-0 to end the period and take a 13-6 lead into the second frame.
 
After a triple from Miranda pushed the Clark lead to 16-6, freshman Beth Laing ended the run with a layup and Brooke Packard scored inside to make it a 16-10 game with 8:09 to play in the half. Another 6-0 run by the Bison pulled them to within four at 20-16 following a Cerrato layup, and Jessica Larsh knocked down a triple a few minutes later to pull Nichols to 22-19 and 1:38 remaining. Miranda answered with a triple of her own and the Cougars took a 25-19 lead into the break.
 
Nichols continued to chip away and a layup from Cerrato with 5:23 to play in the quarter trimmed the deficit to 30-26. Nerney sandwiched threes around a Miranda three-ball to keep the Bison within striking distance at 35-32, but the Cougars scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 39-32 advantage into the final period.
 
After a pair of Ezemma free throws opened the fourth stanza, Nerney knocked down back-to-back triples to keep it a 41-38 game with 9:11 to play. An Allison Cerrato jumper made it a 41-40 game nearly three minutes later, but Chen scored four-straight points to give the Cougars a 45-40 advantage. Cerrato answered again, this time with a three-point play, to pull the Bison back to 45-43 and 1:24 to play.
 
The Bison were forced to foul, and the Cougars made enough free throws (6-for-9) down the stretch to hang on for the 51-43 victory.
 
All-Time Series
Saturday was the 10th meeting all-time between the two programs and the Cougars lead the series 8-2.