NEWTON, Mass. – Four different players scored at least three goals for the Bison of Nichols College in a 20-11 non-conference win against the Mustangs of Mount Ida College. With the win, Nichols improves to 4-7 (2-3 CCC) while Mount Ida drops to 2-10 (2-5 GNAC).

Alyssa Bufis (Linden, N.J.) tallied five goals in the game with her first two coming in the opening minutes of the game, giving the visitors the early 2-0 edge. Amanda Bowen (Randolph, Vt.) cut the Bison lead in half at the 26:30 mark before Bufis, Lindsay O'Connell (Danvers, Mass.) and Brooke Marion (South Hadley, Mass.) scored three straight to increase the Nichols lead, 5-1.

Nicole Pavao (Peabody, Mass.) and Bowen got the Mustangs right back into the thick of things when Bowen found Pavao right in front of the Bison goal for her first marker of the day. Bowen would then score on a free position shot to bring the hosts back within two at 5-3.

Nichols opened up their lead scoring eight of the next ten goals while giving the hosts the 13-5 lead with seven seconds remaining in the half.

Bufis was at it again before teammate Meghan Dombkowski (Sagaponack, N.Y.) recorded her first goal of the afternoon to increase the NC lead to 7-3. Grace Murphy (Montclair, Va.) scored her first marker of the day off a free position attempt, her 21^st goal of the season. Bufis then found the stick of Marion while Murphy scored her second tally in just six minutes of play. Bowen scored in between Bufis and Allison Bench (Windham, N.H.) at the 2:00 mark to bring the score to 11-4 in favor of Nichols. Samantha Basler (Plymouth, Mass.) and Murphy exchanged goals at the end of the half that would see the visitors on top, 13-5.

Nichols started the second half much like the first, scoring the first four goals of the stanza while taking the commanding 17-5 lead. Olivia Morawski (Fairfield, Conn.), O'Connell (2), and Marion all tallied the markers to begin the half.

Bowen and Nikki Kinneen (Salem, N.H.) scored two straight goals for the Mustangs, Kinneen's on a free position shot while Brian Barker (Westerly, R.I.) found Bowen's stick for her GNAC leading 42^nd goal of the season.

Alexa Smith (Salem, N.H.) extended the Nichols lead to 18-7 before Emily McConnell (Lowell, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal at the 5:06 mark of the half. Basler padded her second of the game and 18^th of the season to bring Mount Ida back within nine, 18-9. Hayley Napier (Fairhaven, Mass.) notched her 10^th marker of the season and soon thereafter her 11^th before Dombkowski and Emily Sgueglia (W. Springfield, Mass.)put the finishing touches on the non-conference win by a final score of 20-11.

Mount Ida was led by Bowen who recorded six points in the game on four goals and two assists. Basler and Napier both added two goals each while combining for three assists. Pavao and McConnell rounded out the scoring for the Mustangs.

Nichols held the slight advantage in shots while outshooting Mount Ida 29-23. The Bison also edged the Mustangs in ground balls, 20-19. Katherine Cotton (Kennebunk, Me.) got the win for Nichols while allowing five goals and making three saves. Jacqueline Hogue (North Grafton, Mass.) relieved Cotton in the second half allowing six goals. Sydney Fredette (Hudson, Mass.) took the loss for Mount Ida, making six saves.

Mount Ida will be back in GNAC action on Saturday afternoon in Northfield, Vermont when they take on Norwich University at 1:00 p.m. Nichols also returns to conference play when they are entertained by Endicott College at 12:00.