THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team (8-15, 3-7 Southland Conference) will look to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research, and continue to improve their chances for a Southland Conference Tournament berth when the Colonels host the league's defending regular season and tournament champion Lamar Cardinals (18-5, 11-3 Southland Conference) for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff on Saturday in Stopher Gym.

Nicholls will be participating in the annual nation-wide Pink Zone event to raise money and awareness for breast cancer and contribute to the Kay Yow Cnacer Fund, named in honor of longtime North Carolina State women's basketball coach and breast cancer victim Kay Yow.

During the game, the Colonels will contribute to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund by taking pledges for every three-pointer they hit.  Every shot from beyond the arc that the Colonels sink will go directly to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.  With Nicholls beginning the week ranked among the top-50 three point shooting teams in the nation, the Colonels hope to make a very big impact for breast cancer research.

Fans interested in getting involved in the days' activities or looking to pledge to the Colonels' three-point cause can contact Nicholls assistant women's basketball coach Catherine Blanchard at catherine.blanchard@nicholls.edu.

The Colonels head into Saturday's contest fresh off clinching their eighth win of the season, Nicholls' best overall win total since the 2004-05 season.  The Colonels turned in one of the best halves of basketball of the season, shooting 52 percent from the floor after the break and overcome a one-point halftime deficit in a 75-62 win at Stephen F. Austin, giving Nicholls multiple Southland Conference road wins since the 2007-08 season.

With six regular season games remaining, the Colonels remain 0.5 games out of the eighth and final Southland Conference tournament spot.  Texas State and UT Arlington are currently tied for the final tournament spot with identical 3-6 records.  However, in order to get back into the tournament picture, Nicholls will have to overcome a powerful Lamar team that claimed a 79-62 win over the Colonels on Jan. 29.

The Cardinals boast the top scoring team in the Southland Conference, scoring an average of 73.0 points/game and have won two straight, six of their last seven and 13 of their last 15 ballgames.  Lamar is led by a trio of double-digit scorers.  Kalis Loyd leads the Cardinals with a 14.2 point/game average.  She is joined by Moniqu Whittaker's 14.1 point/game average and 13.3 point/game production from Jenna Plumley.

Nicholls hopes that their own trio of double digit scorers will help them keep pace with Lamar.  Senior guard Ricshanda Bickham leads the Colonels with a 14.6 point/game average.  Freshman guard KK Babin (13.0 points/game) and sophomore forward Alisha Allen (11.9 points/game) round out the Colonels' scoring threat.

Tipoff against the Cardinals is set for 3:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.  Following the contest, the Colonels will hit the road to take on Texas-San Antion on Saturday Feb. 19.