Posted: Dec 13, 2012
Bison Outlast Lady AMCATS, 56-48
Anna Maria
(3-6)
48
Nichols
(3-5)
56
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anna Maria (3-6) | 25 | 23 | 48 |
|
Nichols (3-5) | 30 | 26 | 56 |
DUDLEY, Mass. – The AMCATS (3-6) were paced by junior Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Mass.), who scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field but it wasn't enough as Anna Maria was downed 56-48 by Nichols College in non-conference women's basketball action Thursday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.
Senior Hayley Zophin (Framingham, Mass.) racked up her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds while senior captain Kristina Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.) and junior Devon Spirka (Wilmington, Vt.) each notched six steals as the Bison (3-5) forced 28 turnovers in route to snapping their five-game losing skid. Spirka chipped in with 16 points and six assists while Lindgren snared nine rebounds.
As a team, the AMCATS held the Bison to just 27 percent from the floor (18-of-67) and outrebounded them 45-42, but struggled to hold onto the ball all evening. Taylor Walker filled the stat sheet with 8 rebounds, a steal, a block and four points. Senior Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass) contributed with a team-high nine rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 points.
Nichols fell behind by six early in the first half before a layup by Zophin at 13:30 gave the Bison their first lead of the game. The opening 20 minutes saw the AMCATS rally to tie the game three times before six points from Zophin in the closing 2:30 gave the home team a 30-25 edge at the break. Zophin led Nichols with 11 in the first half while sophomore Sarah Whitestone (Dalton, Mass.) poured in 10. Cummings scored 13 points and grabbed six boards to lead AMC.
In the second half, the Bison extended their lead to nine three minutes in on a basket by Spirka, then grabbed their first double-digit lead on a pair of free throws by Zophin at 8:13. Two free throws by Cummings with 49 seconds remaining cut the Bison deficit to six, and a three by freshman Lindsay Bond (Webster, Mass.) made it 53-48 with 28 ticks remaining. Spirka answered with a pair of free throws at the other end, and a missed three by senior Alison McCarthy (Lynn, Mass.) with 11 seconds left sealed the win for Nichols.
The Bison hit on 18-of-25 from the charity stripe (72 pct.) and picked up assists on 11 of their 18 field goals. The two teams were a combined 5-of-25 from downtown (20 pct.).
Anna Maria host WPI Tuesday at 7 p.m.
