Box Score and Play-by-Play

NEW ORLEANS -  The Nicholls State University women's basketball team (5-8) battled UNC Charlotte (11-3) through eight tie scores and four lead changes.  However, after heading into halftime down just four, the Colonels fell victim to a big second half from the 49ers as Charlotte pulled away for the 80-54 win.

The Colonels were led by 17 points from senior guard and New Orleans native Ricshanda Bickham.  Freshman guard KK Babin added 15 points.  Meanwhile, a swarming Nicholls defense forced 19 Charlotte turnovers and recorded 12 steals that led to 14 Colonel points.  However, it wasn't enough as five 49er players turned in double-digit scoring performances, led by 20 points from Epiphany Woodson.

The bigger 49ers made the most of their size advantage, hauling down 57 rebounds to the Colonels 32.  Charlotte outscored Nicholls in the paint 54 to 18 and recorded 16 second chance points thatnks to 27 offensive rebounds.

Nicholls still managed to battle the 49ers in a back-and-forth first half, trailing Charlotte 36-29 at the break.  Charlotte managed to increase their lead in the opening part of the second half, but the Colonels managed to get back to within eight as a jumper by Alisha Allen made it 54-46 with 12:43 left.

However, the 49ers then put together a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to take a commanding 17 point lead, making it 63-46 with 9:41 to go.  The Colonels tried to mount a comeback, reducing the deficit to 12 on a pair of successful free throws by Bickham that made it 69-57 with 5:58 left to go.

Once again, the 49ers came up with a big run, taking a 20 point lead thanks to a 11-3 run that made it 80-60 with 3:06 left.  Nicholls couldn't get any closer than 17 the rest of the way as Charlotte cruised over the final three minutes to the 84-65 final.