Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX -  Freshman gaurd KK Babin picked up her first career double-double, junior forward Jasmine Hoskins turned in a game-high 20 points and the Nicholls State University women's basketball team (7-14, 2-6 Southland Conference) weathered a huge second half rally from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-19, 0-8 Southland Conference), hanging on for a 77-74 win over the Islanders on Wednesday night in Stopher Gym.  The victory gives the Colonels their first seven win season since 2006-07 and was Nicholls' second consecutive win over the Islanders.

Hoskins turned in 20 points on a stellar 10-for-12 shooting performance from the floor.  With Hoskins leading the Colonels' front-court efforts, Babin got hot on the perimeter.  The St. Michael the Archangel product totaled 19 points with three three pointers while also dishing out 12 assists on the night, nine of which came in the first half that allowed Nicholls to claim a sizeable lead against the Islanders.

Nicholls took a 14-point lead into the lockerroom with a 47-33 advantage over AMCC.  That lead swelled to 24 points as a layup in the paint by Hoskins put the Colonels up 59-35 with 15:23 left in the second half. 

However, the Islanders stormed back as the Colonels' foul trouble cost them in the second half.  AMCC got to the line 31 times on the night, with 24 free throw attempts coming in the second half alone.  The Islanders converted on 22-of-31 attempts from the stripe on the night and went 17-for-24 in the second half alone to claw their way back into the game.

After Nicholls claimed it's largest lead of the night at the 15:23 mark, the Islanders went on a 35-15 run.  A layup by Anitra Jeffrey capped the run to make it 74-70 in favor of Nicholls, and with 1:42 left in the ballgame, the Colonels saw their lead dwindle to just four points.

Fortunately, for the Colonels, Nicholls answered on the very next possession as senior forward Cassie Hearon nailed a three-pointer to make it 77-70.  The Islanders got a three of their own on the next trip up the floor to cut the lead to four once again, and AMCC got a free throw from Jeffrey to cut the lead to 77-74 with three seconds left. 

AMCC fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, and, after Babin missed the front end of a one-and-one, the Islanders came away with the rebound.  Fortunately, AMCC's desperation heave from half court rattled off the backboard and the Colonels came away with the 77-74 win.

Nicholls will look to make it two straight when the Colonels host Texas State on Saturday.  Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.