THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team (5-10, 0-2 Southland Conference) will try to hand Sam Houston State (8-8, 2-0 Southland Conference) their first loss of the conference season and pick up their first win of the conference season with a 3:30 p.m. tipoff in Stopher Gym on Saturday.

The Colonels will face a tough challenge in the form of the Bearkats.  Sam Houston State snapped a five-game losing streak by opening up the conference schedule with conseuctive wins against Texas-San Antonio and Texas-Arlington. 

The Bearkats are led by a trio of double-digit scorers.  Britni Martin, the fourth-leading scorer in the Southland Conference, boasts a 15.5 point/game average for the Berkats.  She is joined by Sequeena Thomas (13.9 points/game) and Chanice Smith (11.7 points/game).

The triple-headed scoring threat has led the Bearkats to the second best scoring margin in conference play.  Through the first two games of the league schedule, SHSU has outscored opponents by a +11.5 margin.

Nicholls, meanwhile, looks for its first win of the conference season after a pair of close losses to open the league slate.  The Colonels opened the conference season with a 69-62 loss at Texas-Arlington on Jan. 8 in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute.  Nicholls followed that performance by storming back from an 18-point halftime deficit before falling to Northwestern State 70-67 on Wednesday.

The Colonels continue to be led by a balanced offense that boasts four scorers in double-digits.  Senior guard Ricshanda Bickham (14.5 points/game), freshman guard KK Babin (12.6 ppg), junior guard Sumar Leslie and sophomore forward Alisha Allen (11.6 ppg) lead the way for the Colonels.

Tipoff between the Colonels and Bearkats is set for 3:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.