Nichols Edges Fitchburg State, 81-79 (OT)

Rogers nets game-high 26 in non-conference setback

DUDLEY, Mass. (December 1, 2009) - Junior Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) registered a game-high 26 points for Fitchburg State but the Falcons were edged by Nichols College, 81-79 in non-conference, overtime action this evening.

KELLEY ROGERS

Rogers led the Falcons shooting attack, hitting 9-of-19 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw stripe. The junior guard added six boards to the mix, while notching two assists and one steal. Classmate Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) was also strong for Fitchburg State, draining five shots from beyond the arc for 15 points, while senior captain Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) rounded out the Falcons top three with 14 points and five caroms.

Nichols junior Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I./North Providence) matched Rogers throughout the entire match, totaling 26 points for the Bison on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. Nelson completed 1-of-2 Bison double-doubles with ten rebounds in the contest, while classmate Ashley Robidoux (Milford, Mass./Milford) turned in an 18 point, ten assist performance.

With the scored knotted 69-69 after two even period's of play, the game advanced into a five-minute overtime. In the extra frame, Nichols came out gunning as the Bison used three free-throws and two field goals to grab a five point margin (76-71). Nelson sparked the Bison with three points and one assist, while Chelsea Shaughnessy (Halifax, Mass./Silver Lake) added two free-throws, a rebound and one helper.

Fitchburg State answered the Nichols rally via the three as junior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and Duprey connected from long-range to tie the game (79-79) with 0:36 remaining, but just 0:22 later Nelson drained a two-point dagger to put the host up by two and seal the victory.

Fitchburg State (2-3, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Thursday as it travels to Simmons College at 7 p.m. Nichols (3-2, 0-0 TCCC) will host Westfield State College on Thursday at 7 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Nichols 81, Fitchburg State 79 (OT)