By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's team dropped a 5-2 non-conference decision to Nichols College Tuesday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

It was the first meeting between the Bears (1-2) and the Bison, who won their season opener by defeating BSU.

Nichols, a member of the Conference of New England, won the first four singles matches and the first two doubles matches.

At No. 1 singles, sophomore Kamora Helton (Ardmore, Pa.) stopped BSU sophomore Emma Gibney (New Bedford, Mass.), 6-2, 6-2, while senior Charis Vogler (Brandenburg, Germany) won at No. 2 singles over sophomore Aislyn Kelliher (Plymouth), 6-0, 6-1.

Nichols junior Pamela Gonzalez Vallardi (Mexico City, Mexico) prevailed at No. 3 singles over sophomore Morgan Smith (Taunton, Mass.), 6-0, 6-1, and junior Cora Brosch (Papendorf, Germany) won at No. 4 singles over sophomore Sarah Pothier (Rochester, Mass.), 6-3, 6-3.

BSU junior Samantha Bettencourt (Tiverton, R.I.) took No. 5 singles over Erin Helly, 6-0, 6-1, and No. 6 singles went to the Bears by default.

Nichols' first doubles team of Helton and Gonzalez Vallardi was a 6-1 winner over Kelliher and Smith while Brosch and Vogler took No. 2 doubles over Gibney and Bettencourt, 6-1.

Bridgewater was awarded the decision at No. 3 doubles by default.

BSU plays its fourth straight home match on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., opening the Little East Conference schedule against Vermont State Castleton.

Nichols will host the University of Massachusetts Boston at 4 p.m. on Thursday in a non-conference match.