Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX - A swarming defense that forced 39 turnovers and recorded 18 steals led the Nicholls State University women's basketball team (3-6) past Bethune-Cookman (3-4) as the Colonels snapped a six-game losing skid with a 71-44 rout of the Wildcats.

Four different Colonels scored in double digits, led by freshman guard KK Babin who totaled 20.  The Gonzales, La. native connected on 7-of-13 field goal attempts and was 5-for-10 from three-point range.  Senior guard Ricshanda Bickham (14 points) and sophomore forward Alisha Allen (10 points) also turned in double digit scoring performances.

However, it was guard/forward Sumar Leslie who had the most complete preformance of the night.  Playing in her first home game in a Nicholls uniform, the Houma native totaled 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting.  Leslie came away with seven steals and dished out six assists, both game highs.

The Wildcats came in riding the momentum of a Monday night road win at UL-Lafayette.  BCU was neck-and-neck with Nicholls in the early going as neither team could claim a lead larger than six through the first 14 minutes of the first half.  However, Nicholls put together a 15-4 run over the final 5:12 of the opening frame to take a 38-21 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.

Nicholls kept it's foot on the gas in the second half as the Colonels expanded their lead to 31.  Leslie's layup at the 11:00 mark put Nicholls up 61-30, their largest lead of the night.  BCU tried to rally, but the Colonel defense kept up it's pressure.  Nicholls recorded 36 points off of the Wildcats' 39 turnovers and scored 23 on the fast break to keep Bethune-Cookman out of reach.  BCU never got closer than 25 points the rest of the night.

Nicholls will try to make it two in a row when the Colonels return to Stopher Gym on Saturday to host Georgia State.  Tipoff between the Colonels and Panthers is set for 3:30 p.m.