DUDLEY, Mass. (1/31/2026): The Nichols College women's basketball team hosted Endicott College in a conference matchup at Nichols Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon, but fell short of their endeavor by a final score of 61-40.

The loss now puts the Bison at 9-11 (2-9 CNE)) overall on the season, while Endicott improves to 12-7 (8-2 CNE).

It was a tough afternoon offensively for the Bison, with the team only hitting 17-of-67 (25.4%) shots from the field and only 3-of-16 (18.0%) from three. Aside from the setback, senior Alyvia Smith continued her hot scoring totaling 14 points on the day, alongside three rebounds, while classmate Tianna Fernandez also performed well with eight points in the effort. Senior Kya Burdier was the top rebounder for the Bison, hauling in eight boards.

The Gulls opened up the scoring with a quick layup which was shortly answered by an Alyvia Smith jumper shot to keep the score even. However, the Gulls would tally 11 unanswered points to go up 13-2, until junior Angie Coletti scored on a layup with a foul, earning her a bonus point on the ensuing free throw. With two and a half minutes left in the first, and the Bison trailing by 10, sophomore Isabella Lopez-Marin delivered right off the bench  with a steal and a layup to cut Nichols' trail to eight points, which would be the difference at the end of the frame.

The Bison carried that flame into the second quarter, making it a battle for the Gulls. A layup from Fernandez and a quick three from junior Rylee Barrieault helped Nichols slowly chip away at the point deferential, with Burdier adding to the effort with a layup off an excellent pass from teammate Adriana Romano, cutting the trail to four points with 7:00 left. Shortly after, Smith kept Nichols in tow with a fast break layup to bring them to within two points, only for the Gulls to notch 12 unanswered to finish out the half, giving them a 34-22 edge.

The Bison, in an effort to keep their offensive push and victory hopes alive, went back-and-forth with the Gulls early in the second half. However, Endicott would only add to their lead the remainder of the third quarter, outscoring the Bison 16-11 for a 51-33 lead heading into the fourth.  

Nichols would mount a short-lived comeback in the fourth, but the Gulls ultimately kept the pace firmly in their favor, closing out the contest with a decisive 61–34 win.

Nichols hits the road for a conference tilt at Wentworth Institute of Technology (1-18, 0-11 CNE) this Tuesday, February 3^rd beginning at 7:00 PM.