DUDLEY, Mass. (2/7/2026) – The Nichols College women's basketball team hosted Suffolk University on Saturday afternoon for a pivotal conference matchup inside the Nichols College Athletic Center. In a tightly contested battle that came down to the final possession, the Bison showed grit on both ends of the floor to edge the Rams, 56–55, securing a hard-fought conference victory on the hill.

The win lifts Nichols to an even 11–11 overall while improving to 4–9 in CNE conference action.

Senior Adriana Romano powered the Bison offense, pouring in a season-high 15 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting performance. Romano stuffed the stat sheet with five rebounds and eight assists, while also tying sophomore Angie Coletti for the team lead in steals with two. Fellow senior Alyvia Smith matched Romano with 15 points of her own, knocking down two three-pointers, pulling in four rebounds, and adding two assists while going a perfect 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Junior Rylee Barrieault provided key support off the bench, contributing nine points on 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc (3-for-6), along with four rebounds and a steal. 

On the glass, senior Tianna Fernandez led the Bison with eight rebounds, while Kya Burdier added seven.

The Bison came out firing against the Rams, shooting 47 percent from the field and a scorching 60 percent from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. While the contest remained tight early, Nichols closed the period with momentum, sparked by lockdown defense that produced a block from Burdier and a pair of three-pointers—one from Burdier and a buzzer-beating shot-clock heave from Barrieault. The late surge pushed the Bison ahead by six as they entered the second quarter with a 21–15 lead.

Both teams ramped up the defensive pressure in the second period, but Nichols continued to hold control, extending the lead to eight on a pull-up jumper from Romano. Suffolk began to claw back, trimming the deficit to two on multiple occasions. The Bison offense stalled late in the quarter, as Nichols was held scoreless for nearly three minutes before first-year Jaelize Rivera broke the drought with a bucket off a dime from Smith, sending Nichols into the locker room with a 30–27 advantage.

The second half opened with Suffolk striking first, as the Rams claimed their first lead of the game at the 6:30 mark. From there, the teams traded the lead twice, with Nichols regaining control on a jumper from Coletti and again on a layup by Burdier. Suffolk carried its momentum through the quarter, holding the advantage even after a buzzer-beating floater from Romano.

Coming out of the huddle, the Bison responded immediately, as Barrieault knocked down a three-pointer to give Nichols a two-point edge. Nichols maintained the lead from there, with Romano burying a triple to extend the advantage before Smith joined the surge, drilling a deep three curling off a screen from Coletti.

The final minutes featured a gritty battle for possessions and quick points on both ends, but Nichols remained composed down the stretch. Smith calmly knocked down two clutch free throws to preserve a slim one-point lead. In the closing seconds, both teams had chances at the line and from the field, combining for three free-throw opportunities and six missed shots. The Bison defense stood tall on the Rams' final possession, sealing the one-point victory and securing a dramatic 56–55 win.

The Bison will be back on the road for their next contest on February 11th, facing the Gordon College Fighting Scotts at the Bennett Center. The opening tip is set for 5:00 PM.