Final Stats THIBODAUX  – Sophomore guard KK Babin poured in a career-high 27 points as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team shot a blistering 67 percent from the field to defeat Belhaven University, 78-60, on Tuesday night a Stopher Gym.

Babin hit six 3-pointers in the game, including two during a 10-0 run that closed out the first period, giving Nicholls (5-5) a 34-27 lead. The Gonzales, La. native finished the night shooting 10-of-16 and 6-of-11 from behind the arc.

Senior Sumar Leslie netted double-figures for the 10th time in as many games, scoring 19 on 8-of-10 with one 3-pointer. Junior Alisha Allen was next with 14 points and grabbed five boards, tying Babin and Leslie for the team high.

Belhaven (7-4), ranked 23rd in the NAIA, controlled the early portion of the game, taking a 13-7 lead after six minutes of play. The Colonels clawed back and were able to knot it at 18 on a 3-ball from Babin, but with less than four minutes remaining, the Blazers got a basket-and-one from Regena Jackson to go up 27-24. Jackson paced the Blazers with 24 points on the night.

Following a two-minute scoring drought by both squads, Jenny Nash, who led Nicholls with five assists, found Holly Martin in the paint for a field goal to spark the Colonels' late run. Martin came up with a block on the next possession, which led to a Babin 3-pointer. The Nicholls defense came through once again as Babin stole the ball and raced down for a layup, and right before the break, she nailed a three to give her 17 points in the period as the Colonels went into the locker room up seven.

In the second half, Belhaven trimmed the deficit to 51-49 at the 10-minute mark, but Babin quickly answered with another bucket from downtown on the next possession. A three from Nash put Nicholls back up 10, and it also started another 10-0 run for the Colonels, giving them a commanding 72-55 lead. Nicholls led by 21 after a steal and a layup from Leslie before going on to claim its third consecutive victory.

Nicholls held Belhaven to 38 percent from the field, and 24 percent from behind the arc. Along with hitting 67 percent overall, the Colonels drained 9-of-18 from long range. Nicholls held the advantage in the rebounding column, 34-27.

The Colonels will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 20, when they host North Texas at Stopher Gym. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.