Final Stats THIBODAUX  – Senior guard Sumar Leslie poured in a career-high 34 points as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team knocked off rival Southeastern Louisiana, 88-79, in a shootout in Stopher Gym on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Nicholls improves to 10-8 overall and 3-2 in Southland play. The Colonels matched their conference win total from last season and reached double digits  in overall wins for the first time in 10 years.

Southeastern La. falls to 5-12 overall and 0-4 in conference after dropping its fourth straight contest.

Leslie, a native of Houma, connected on her first eight field goals and finished the day shooting 12-of-15 with two 3-pointers. The senior made 8-of-10 at the line as the Colonels connected on 20-of-24 for the game.

Along with Leslie, the Colonels were led by Jasmine Hoskins, who came up one rebound shy of a double-double, tying her season-high with 16 of points. Alisha Allen scored 14, while KK Babin dished out a season-high nine assists. Jenny Nash and Babin also chipped in with nine points each.

In the first half, both squads went neck and neck as they battled to seven ties and 12 lead changes, with Nicholls taking a 41-39 lead at the break after Babin banked home a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Leslie scored 18 in the half, but Southeastern scorched the nets from downtown, hitting 6-of-8 with four coming from Jessica Sommers, who was one of five Lady Lions to finish in double figures.

In  the second half, Nash nailed a jumper at the 15:14 mark to make the score 47-46 and the Colonels never looked back.  SLU cut the deficit to one four times over the next five minutes, but could never regain the lead. Leading 60-58, the Colonels held the Lady Lions scoreless over a three-minute stretch as they built an eight-point edge.

With two minutes remaining, Hoskins drained a pair of free throws to give Nicholls its largest lead, 78-67. The Lady Lions were forced to foul, but the Colonels answered by hitting 8-of-10 at the charity stripe en route to their 10th victory of the season.

Both teams shot 54 percent on the day, but SLU converted on only 10-of-21 at the free throw line. The teams were dead even in rebounding (31); however, Nicholls took advantage of 21 Lady Lion turnovers for 32 points.

Southeastern was led by Kelli Jenkins with 19 points and 11 assists. Sommers finished with 15, while Brandi Simmons added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Colonels will have a quick turnaround as they head to Lake Charles on Monday to take on McNeese State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.