WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Nichols women's hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play to Western New England on Friday night at the Olympia Ice Center. With the loss, the Bison fell to 5-16-1 (3-12-0 CCC) while WNE jumped to 13-7-3 (8-6-2 CCC).
 
The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead early in the first period when Brie Dube found the back of the net just 2:20 into the contest.
 
Western New England tacked on two additional goals at the 8:20 and 10:49 marks of the second period to jump out to a comfortable 3-0 lead. As the first 40 minutes was coming to a close, Nichols' Grace Melanson lit the lamp on a feed from Avery Moriarty to cut the deficit to two at the second intermission.
 
Maddie Pope added the final tally of the contest as the Golden Bears defended home ice with a 4-1 victory.
 
Nichols netminder Victoria Bakopanos made 21 saves in the setback.
 
The Bison will honor its graduating student-athletes prior to a 4:40 p.m. matchup against the University of New England on Saturday, February 11 at Levy Rink.