Final Stats THIBODAUX  - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team shot 50 percent in the first half and led by as much as 11 points, but Alabama State held the Colonels to just 30 percent in the second period as the Lady Hornets spoiled Nicholls' home debut with a 61-57 victory on Monday afternoon at Stopher Gym.

Although Nicholls (1-2) gave up a seven-point halftime advantage, the Colonels took a 53-50 lead with less than six minutes remaining after KK Babin completed a basket-and-one. Alabama State (1-2) quickly responded with a 3-pointer to even the game before breaking a late 55-all tie with the game's next four points. The Colonels came up empty in its next two possessions as the Lady Hornets went on to pick up the win.

“I have to give all the credit to Alabama State for their intensity. They were scrappy and played very hard, and we didn't match their intensity down the stretch,” Nicholls women's basketball head coach DoBee Plaisance said. “We were up three with five minutes left and I thought that was going to be our turning point, but they were able to come back and knot it back up. Then they won the game at the free throw line. We just have to do a better job of raising our level of intensity.”

The Colonels had five players score in double figures, led by Sumar Leslie with 15 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Alisha Allen finished with 12 points, LiAnn McCarthy and Babin chipped in with 10 and Jasmine Hoskins came off the bench for 10 and a team-high eight rebounds.

In the tale of two halves, Nicholls quickly raced out to an 18-8 lead just five minutes into the game. The Lady Hornets sliced the deficit in half on two separate occasions before a three from Leslie sparked an 8-2 run, putting the score at 28-17 at the 5:15 mark. Right before the intermission, ASU came within five again before Allen nailed a jumper at the buzzer to put Nicholls up 34-27.

In the second period, the Lady Hornets scored seven consecutive points to even the count, and the teams played to six more ties before Babin's old fashion 3-pointer gave Nicholls the slight edge, 53-50. After tying the game at 55, Alabama State added a basket to go back up, but then Holly Martin found Leslie for a bucket to even it at 57.

Following a pair of free throws by the Lady Hornets to regain the lead, Leslie missed on the front end of the bonus with 43 seconds left. The Colonels came up with a turnover, but Danielle Gazaway, who led ASU with 15 points, stole it back and scored on a layup with 16 seconds remaining, giving Alabama State a 59-55 lead. The teams traded free throws down the stretch to make the final 61-57 as ASU picked up its first win of the season.

Nicholls shot 38 percent (19-of-50) for the game and 88.2 percent (15-of-17) at the free throw line. The Colonels made 4-of-14 behind the arc, while Alabama State connected on 6-of-13. The Lady Hornets shot an identical 15-of-17 at the charity stripe and held a 34-29 advantage in rebounding.

The Colonels will head to Eugene, Ore. for their next three contests as they will participate in the Global Sports Cage Classic. Nicholls faces UC Irvine on Nov. 24, Weber State on Nov. 25 and host Oregon on Nov. 27.