DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Leandra Ortiz hit the go-ahead jumper with 1:29 remaining in regulation to lift the Nichols College women's basketball team to their first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) playoff win in over a decade with a 67-57 triumph over Wentworth Institute of Technology Monday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.

Senior Jillian Spillane picked up a double-double with 15 points (7-of-13 FG) and 11 rebounds to go with four steals and a pair of blocks for the Bison, who improved to 10-16 on the season. The win sets up a meeting with No. 1 Roger Williams in the CCC Quarterfinals Tuesday night in Bristol, R.I.

Sophomore Summer Klein scored a pair of key baskets late in the fourth and finished with eight points, nine boards, six steals and a pair of dimes. Classmate and reigning CCC Rookie of the Week Abrianna Vazquez struggled to find her touch all evening but led all student-athletes with 21 points on 6-of-30 shooting. The Dedham, Mass. native also finished with six boards and six steals in 34 minutes of action. Senior Amanda Donoghue came off the bench with key contributions of six points and six boards in 11 minutes of action.

The Leopards opened up an early 15-2 lead behind a pair of triples of Gabby Amoddio and closed the first quarter up by 10. The Bison cut the deficit to five (20-15) following a layup from Ortiz with four minutes remaining in the first half before a three-pointer from junior Toni Geisel and a pair of free throws from Vazquez brought NC to within four (29-25) at halftime.

Nichols briefly grabbed the lead with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth when Geisel canned a pair of free throws to make it a 40-38 contest. The Bison carried that lead into the fourth but found themselves behind by one (57-56) with 1:48 left when Ortiz pulled up from the free throw line and drained her first field goal of the evening. A miss at the other end led to a fast break and-1 layup from Klein which extended the lead to three (61-57). Later, Ortiz converted a layup to extend the lead to six (63-57) with 45 ticks left on the clock.

Nichols finished the night shooting 27 percent from the field and scored 23 points off turnovers. The Leopards (4-21) made 27 percent of their shots as well and were led by Amoddio with 19 points.