Feb. 11, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls trailed by 11 points, 67-56, with 4:38 left in the second half, but that didn't stop them from fighting back and it paid off with a 76-74 win over Sam Houston State on Wednesday night.

The win, which was the Colonels first of the season, featured heroic play over the final four and a half minutes as Nicholls outscored Sam Houston State 20-to-7 during that span. But it was how they did it that made it special.

With 1:26 left in regulation, senior Tiffany Jones picked up her fifth foul, and was replaced by true freshman Portia Washington in the lineup. Washington responded to the pressure in the tight game, and made arguably the game winning shot, a 15-foot jumper, with 30 seconds left to put the Colonels up 73-72.

Sam Houston State, who is now winless in its last 19 tries on the road in conference play, had its opportunities to tie if not win from the free throw line, but made only made 2-of-4 from the strip over the final 30 seconds. After Washington's shot, the Bearkats' Britni Martin made one of two free throws to tie the game at 73.

Then with 15 seconds left, true freshman Nadia Cox ran the floor, breaking through the Bearkat pressure for the go ahead lay-up to give Nicholls the 75-73 advantage. Both teams went on to make one of two free throw opportunities before a last second heave by SHSU's Ray Alexander that fell short to give Nicholls the win.

"I can't tell you how happy I am for my team. These young ladies show up and work hard every game, and never give up. We were down double digits with four left, and they never quit," said Head Coach DoBee Plaisance.

"Having Portia come in and play the way she did when Tiffany fouled out was huge. Her shot really set the tone for the rest of the way, and I knew when Nadia got the ball past the initial pressure that she was going to score or get fouled. Those two made big plays for us when we needed them."

The Colonels (1-20, 1-9) had four players in double figures, and were led by senior Christie Bryant with 20 points. Bryant also had a game-best nine rebounds.

Also scoring in double figures for the Colonels were seniors Tiffany Jones with 14 and Dominique Washington with 13, and Cox with 12. As a team, Nicholls shot a season-best 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the floor and 40.0 percent (2-of-5) from behind the arc.

The Bearkats (7-15, 4-5) also had four players score 10-plus points in the game with Alexander leading SHSU with 15. As a team, the Bearkats shot 39.1 percent (27-of-69) from field goal range, and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from three-point land.

Nicholls will resume play this Saturday at Southeastern La. (13-9, 5-4) in the University Center at 3 p.m. Sam Houston State host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

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