Bison Prove Too Much for Lasers on Opening Night

 NEWTON, MA – Nichols College proved victorious over the Lasell College women's basketball team, 74-34, during the season opener for both teams on Tuesday evening at the Lasell College Athletic Center. 

Seniors Jessica Nelson (North Providence, RI) and Ashley Robidoux (Milford, MA) combined for 42 of the Bison's 74 total points. Nelson tallied 20 of those points in addition to contributing a game-high 10 rebounds while Robidoux scored a game-best 22 points as well as adding five assists. In addition, Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, MA) chipped in with nine points and Emily Yourie (Ellington, CT) ripped down eight boards for the victors.

Senior guard Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) led for Lasell with 10 points and freshman guard Kayla Vincelette (Westport, MA) netted seven points in her collegiate introduction. Junior forward JoAnna Bishop (So. Burlington, VT) matched with six points and six rebounds and sophomore forward Kim Archibald (Lewiston, ME) also tore down six boards.

Nichols shot 42% from the floor (29-69) and 38.4% from beyond the arc (5-13) while Lasell shot just 24% from the field (12-50) and 33.3% from three-point range (2-6).  Neither team was strong at the charity stripe, though Nichols fared better than Lasell with a 58% average (11-19) while Lasell was just 42% (8-19).

Nichols never relinquished or shared the lead after the opening tip-off. The lopsided affair began with the visitors going on top 11-4 in just over three minutes by effectively pressuring the Lasers and profiting from turnovers.  Nelson and Robidoux were responsible for 13 of the first 14 points for Nichols.

After six minutes of play, Nichols took a 10-point edge when Lena Fracassini (Bridgeport, CT) scored her first basket with an up-and-under move in the post.  Lindgren tacked on a three with 13:15 on the clock to deepen the Lasers deficit.

Sophomore guard Ashley Slattery (Weymouth, MA) ended five minute scoring drought for the Lasers with a steal in the back-court which she converted into a layup at 10:58 and Brittany Jefferies (Medford, MA) converted on a baseline jumper shortly after. 

The Bison pulled further away from Lasell as Nelson drained nine successive points to give Nichols a 20-point spread with 4:22 left in the half.  A final bucket by Kasey Pelletier (Dunstable, MA) ended the stanza with a 40-16 Bison edge.

At the break, Nelson and Robidoux had combined for 31 for the Bison's 40 points. Nelson shot 5-for-8 from the field also pulled down a game-high seven boards in the half.

A Lindgren jumper on the right elbow gave Nichols a 26-point advantage one minute into the second frame.   Farr scored nine of her points in the second half and Kara Hinthorne (Rockland, MA) aided with four more, but the Bison had seven second-chance baskets in the period as well as 11 points off of turnovers to maintain the marked distance.

Nichols (1-0) will play in the Worcester City Tournament against WPI on Friday, November19th in the next contest. The Lasers (0-1) are traveling to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday, November 20^th for their Tip-Off Tournament, where they will face Tufts University at 7:30 p.m.