BRISTOL, R.I. – The second-seeded Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team moves on to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals for the third time in four years after defeating the #7 seed Nichols College 71-58.

With the win, Roger Williams (21-5) will host Endicott College on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., while Nichols closes out the year at 11-15.

Despite playing without CCC Player of the Year Kaitlyn Bovee (Berlin, Conn.), RWU still persevered against an aggressive Nichols squad. The Hawks shot .500 from the field in the game and scored three points above their season average.

However, Roger Williams had trouble keeping the Bison off the offensive glass, as Nichols grabbed 24 offensive rebounds, the most allowed by the Hawks this season. The Bison were able to keep possessions alive but could not convert on their second-chance opportunities. Nichols shot only 19-of-74 (.257) in the game.

The Hawks began the game on a 13-4 run over the first five minutes of play. The Bison had opportunities over that stretch to remain close with the Hawks but shot only 2-of-9 over that stretch despite collecting four offensive rebounds on their eight possessions.

Nichols was able to get within four (13-17) on a layup by Amber Litwinko (Berlin, Conn.), but the Hawks tripled their lead over the next three minutes, capped by back-to-back threes by Rachel Battista (Johnson, R.I.) to build a 25-13 lead with 8:23 in the half. Nichols would not pull within single digits of the rest of the period and trailed by 16 (22-38) going into the break.

Roger Williams shot 60.0 percent from the field in the first half but began to cool off in the second period, going only 9-of-23 in the half (.391). RWU's lead hovered between 15 and 19 throughout most of the second half and appeared to have the game easily in hand until the final two minutes of the game.

Trailing 49-66, Nichols was able to use an 8-0 run to pull within nine with only 57 second left to play. After Lisa Lutz (Downers Grove, Ill.) went one of two at the line for RWU, Devon Spirka (Wilmington, Vt.) was fouled on a three-point attempt and had a chance to bring the Bison within seven. However, Sprika only connected on her last shot in three attempts. Lutz drilled her two shots on the other end for RWU to bring the Hawks back up by 11 (69-58) with 32 seconds left. Nichols missed its final four shots of the game, ending the comeback attempt and giving RWU the win.

Angelica Ariola (Prospect, Conn.) led all scorers with 20 points along with four rebounds. Lutz scored a season-high 15 points, while Ari Renwick (Westwood, Mass.) went for nine points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

Alexis Wegrzynek (Wilbraham, Mass.) noted a double-double for Nichols with 17 points and ten rebounds. Litwinko added13 points and seven board before fouling out, and Julia Zawacki (Dalton, Mass.) finished with eight points and nine boards off the bench.