WBB Comes Up Short at Nichols
DUDLEY, Mass. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team fell by a 65-50 final at Nichols College on Thursday night in non-conference action.
Taylor Daniels led four Nichols players in double figures with 17 points as the Bison earned their first win of the season and improved to 4-0 all-time against the Mariners. Julia Zawacki came off the bench to provide nine rebounds, four points and three blocks in just 16 minutes. Mekaela Fithian-Giantonio filled the stat sheet with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Allison Cerrato registered seven points, 10 rebounds, four steals and one blocked shot.
Senior Diamond Thomas paced Mitchell with 17 points and added nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and two assists in 25 minutes before fouling out. Classmate Amanda Garcia also finished in double figures with 12 points and tacked on nine rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks.
Nichols opened the second quarter on a 15-0 run to turn a 20-15 deficit into a 30-20 lead. Mitchell fought back and took the lead in the third before a free throw from Zawacki put Nichols in front for good with 3:52 to go in the third. Nichols then used an 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 59-48 lead and secure the win, capped by a three from Fithian-Giantonio.
Nichols was outrebounded 52-47 – including 22-15 on the offensive end – but forced 26 turnovers, led by Brooke Packard's five steals. The Bison held the Mariners to just 21-percent shooting in the second half (7-for-33).
Mitchell (1-5 overall) will next play at Connecticut College on Monday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m.