MILTON, Mass. – Fueled by a career-best 29-point performance from Kiera Fernandes, the Nichols women's basketball team fought hard for its first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory on the road at Curry on Tuesday, taking down the Colonels 99-92. With the win, the Bison advance to 2-5 (1-2 CCC) on the season, while the Colonels now sit at 5-4 (1-2 CCC).
 
The high-scoring affair began as Curry jumped out to a 5-point lead after the first quarter following a 53.3% shooting performance in the period, including a 50% mark from behind the arc.
 
Leandra Ortiz and Abrianna Vazquez each notched six points apiece in the second quarter to chip away at the Colonels' lead, outscoring the home side 24-23 in the second.
 
Trailing 47-43 at the half, Fernandes began her takeover of the second half. The senior guard shot 5-of-9 from the field, including two three-pointers on four attempts, to score 13 points. Her offensive outburst helped pace Nichols to its first lead of the contest, 73-67.
 
The home team battled back from an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to take the lead thanks to a 9-0 run over a 1:25 span early in the frame. With 4:25 to play, a two-point Curry lead was erased thanks to an Ortiz layup, and the Bison regained a lead when Alyvia Smith nailed a three-pointer off an Adriana Romano steal. Nichols would hang on to edge out the Colonels, earning their first conference win of the campaign.
 
The Bison used a stingy defense to hold Curry to a 37.3% night from the field, including a minimal 25% second half. Nichols also tallied 24 steals, forcing 37 turnovers in the matchup.
 
Ortiz (16), Vazquez (15), Kayliana Salazar (11), and Smith (10) each tallied a double-digit point total in the victory. Ortiz and Vazquez both swiped six steals while Erin Cann led the rebounding efforts with seven.
 
Nichols will wrap up its first semester slate on Saturday, December 10 in a matinee matchup with Eastern Nazarene with tip-off set for 1 p.m. from the Lahue Athletic Center.