DUDLEY, Mass. (1/7/25) – Graduate student guard Abrianna Vazquez reached a major scoring milestone on Tuesday night for the Nichols College women's basketball program, eclipsing 2,000 career points scored in a 97-81 loss to the University of Hartford in conference play at the Nichols Athletic Center.

For Vazquez, she not only becomes the first player in program history to reach the elite mark, but also the first player in all active Conference of New England (CNE) institutions to do so. Vazquez' career total now stands at 2,022 and climbing, as she finished the evening with a season-high 39 points scored against the Hawks.

The Bison move to 8-3 (2-3 CNE) with the home loss.

In addition to her standout scoring performance, Vazquez also contributed three rebounds and a team-best five steals and hit 12-of-13 (92.3%) of her free throws. Summer Klein and Adriana Romano each tallied 12 points apiece, with Klein hauling in a team-best nine boards in the effort. As a team, the Bison forced 34 Hartford turnovers.

Vazquez delivered triples on the front and backend of a 15-5 Bison lead in the first quarter, which then increased to 18-5 thanks to another three from Romano with 3:56 remaining. However, Hartford quickly responded with a 10-0 run through the final three and a half minutes, which reduced Nichols' lead down to just three points at 18-15 after one. The second quarter proved to be a stalemate for both teams, as the Bison and Hawks each scored 27 points apiece 45-42 Nichols lead at the half.

The front end of the third quarter saw more alternating play from the two teams, but the Hawks eventually moved into the lead for good after a 13-0 run that spanned across two and a half minutes of action. Despite adding four more points off free throws, the Bison found themselves facing a seven-point deficit entering the final quarter.

Confronted with playing catch up in the fourth, the Bison defense continued to struggle getting stops against a relentless Hartford attack, resulting in the 16-point setback at the final buzzer.

The Bison will wrap up their non-conference slate with a road trip to Norwich University (6-4, 0-1 GNAC) this Thursday, January 9^th. Game time is set for 5:00 PM against the Cadets in Northfield, Vermont.