MILTON, Mass. - Curry College topped visiting Nichols College, 70-58, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Milton, Mass. The Colonels improve to 7-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play while the Bison fall to 2-13 on the season and 1-7 in CCC play.
After a scoreless two minutes to start the game, senior Shannon Griffith (West Hartford, Conn.) broke the tie by splitting a pair of free throws to start the scoring. After a successful three-pointer from junior Alyssa Keeney (Coventry, Conn.) senior Kerry White (Windham, N.H.) scored five straight points for Curry to put the score at 9-2 with six minutes to go in the quarter. From that point on, the Colonels finished the frame on an 11-2 run to put the score at 20-7.
Senior Christina Deiorio (Stoughton, Mass.) started the scoring in the second quarter with a three pointer to add to their lead. The teams traded scores but the advantage for Curry was never less than ten points until the final minute when senior Chelsey Mahoney (Dracut, Mass.) made a layup to put the deficit at eight. Sophomore Nicole Rice (Woburn, Mass.) responded with a jump shot but freshman Mekaela Giantonio (Plainville, Conn.) sank both of her free throws to cut the lead back down to eight to end the scoring in the first half with a score of 37-29.
White and Griffith both finished the first half scoring ten points, good for the game-best. White also pulled down nine rebounds to come just shy of recording a double-double in the first half. Griffith added a pair of rebounds and three steals as well. Freshman Emily Irwin (Billerica, Mass.) finished just behind the senior duo, scoring seven points in the first two frames.
Irwin started the third quarter to put Curry up by ten points again and the Colonels wouldn't look back. The rest of the quarter they stretched their lead before obtaining their biggest of the half (25) with a score of 57-32 following a three from Keeney. By the end of the third frame, the Bison had cut the lead down to 21 and went into the final quarter with a score of 62-41.
Curry sustained their lead over the fourth quarter and eventually worked to the final score of 70-58. Four Colonels scored double digits, with Deiorio dropping the game high of 15. White was closely behind her, recording a double-double with 14 points and 14 total rebounds. Griffith finished with 12 points and chipped in with three steals and pulled down two rebounds. Irwin scored 11 to go along with three assists and three steals for Curry.
Nichols was led by junior Taylor Daniels (Dudley, Mass.) who scored 12 points while adding a pair of rebounds. She was followed by Mahoney who finished with nine while pulling down five total rebounds. Freshman Kristina Domantas (Holden, Mass.) led the Bison in rebounds, with eight.
Both teams return to conference action Tuesday evening as Nichols hosts Salve Regina University for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off while the Colonels travel to Western New England University for a 7:30 p.m. start.