Box Score and Play-by-Play

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -  Twice the Colonels rallied to force an extra period as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team (8-17, 3-9 Southland Conference) battled Texas-San Antonio (12-13, 8-4 Southland Conference) through two overtime periods.  However, the Roadrunners depth finally wore the Colonels down as UTSA went on an 11-1 run in the second and final overtime frame to give Nicholls a 73-63 heartbreaker after 50 minutes of play.

The Colonels were led by a quartet of double-digit scorers, including: senior guard Ricshanda Bickham (team-high 17 points), freshman guard KK Babin (14 points), freshman forward LiAnn McCarthy and junior forward Jasmine Hoskins (11 points each).  However, in the end, it wasn't enough to overcome the Roadrunners, who boasted their own quartet of double digit scorers, led by a game-high 22 from Amber Gregg and 18 from Ashley Gardner.

In a game that featured just two tie scores and two lead changes, the Colonels put together a furious second half rally to force overtime.  Down by 12 with just 4:14 left in the ballgame, Nicholls went on a 16-4 tear over the final four minutes.  Nicholls drained three pointers, and stopped the Roadrunners on the defensive end, on three consecutive possessions to make it 50-47 with 2:30 left. 

After a UTSA jumper and free throw pushed the Roadrunner lead back to four with under a minute left, Nicholls responded as Hoskins made a layup and was fouled with 21 seconds left.  Hoskins converted on her free throw for a successful three-point play and reduce the deficit to one at 53-52.  Bickham stepped up on defense, picking up one of Nicholls' 13 steals on the day on UTSA's next trip up the floor.  The New Orleans native converted the fast break layup with 20 seconds left to give the Colonels their first lead of the ballgame at 54-53.

Unfortunately, for Nicholls, UTSA drew a foul with one second left on the clock.  Gardner missed the front end of her trip to the line, but made her second attempt and sent the game into overtime with the score tied at 54-54.

UTSA started strong in the first overtime, taking a 59-54 lead with a 5-0 run to open the frame.  However, once again, the Colonels battled back.  Nicholls put together a run of its' own, closing the final 2:19 with a 4-0 run to tie the game at 62-62.  Down by two with 39 seconds to go, senior forward Cassie Hearon drew a foul, went to the line and sank both of her free throws to force a second OT.

Unfortunately, The Roadrunners had one big run left in them as UTSA opened the second frame by scoring the first three points of the second OT.  After Babin scored on the back end of a pair of free throws, UTSA closed the final period strong by tallying eight unanswered points for the 73-63 final.

The Colonels will now return to Nicholls for a two-game homestand, hosting Southland Conference East Division power Central Arkansas on Wednesday and visiting in-state rival McNeese on Saturday.  After taking a March 2 trip to Northwestern State for the 2011 regular season road finale, the Colonels will return to Thibodaux to wrap up the 2011 regular season home slate with a March 5 matchup against Southeastern Louisiana, looking for a season-sweep of the Lions.