Jan. 23, 2010

Final Stats

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Junior Ricshanda Bickham continued her scoring tirade with 23 points while true freshman Alisha Allen added 25, but it would not be enough for the Nicholls State University women's basketball team to overcome a 6-point halftime deficit as the squad fell 69-63 to the Northwestern State Lady Demons in Prather Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels (3-14, 0-5 Southland) trailed at the midway point 31-25 and matched the Lady Demons (10-7, 3-1 Southland) in the second half with 38 points, but could not get the win.

"We did a lot of things right today, and played with the level of intensity that I expect from the team," said Head Coach DoBee Plaisance. "Our last two games have been close, and it comes down to the small things and those are things that we continue to improve on."

After trailing in the first half, the Colonels came out in the second stanza firing on all cylinders with a 19-9 run over the first eight minutes to take a 44-42 lead on a junior Jamia Akins layup at the 11:39 mark. The Lady Demons responded from that point on, building a 10-point lead - 63-53 - with 2:22 left in the game.

Nicholls went on to hold Northwestern State without a field from that point on, limiting the Lady Demons to just free throws the rest of the way, however, the Colonels could not make up the difference.

Nicholls dominated the glass in the loss, out-rebounding Northwestern State 41-to-30 that included 20 offensive rebounds. Leading Nicholls in rebounding in the loss was sophomore Chelsea McNamee off the bench with 10, a career-high. Also establishing a new career best in rebounds was Akins with eight.

The Colonels will return home to Stopher Gym to host McNeese State on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with the men's contest to follow after in the doubleheader.

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