THIBODAUX  – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will welcome divisional foe Lamar University on Saturday for a Southland Conference matchup as both squads look to stay in contention for the East Division title. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

After starting 2-0 in conference, Nicholls (10-9, 3-3) has dropped three of its last four, but all three losses came against the top three teams in the Southland. On Monday, the Colonels trailed by only two points in the second half at McNeese; however, the Cowgirls used a 14-0 spurt to pull away to stay undefeated in conference play.

In her second straight start, LiAnn McCarthy scored 16 points for the Colonels and made a career-high four 3-pointers. In her last five games, the New Orleans native is averaging nearly 11 points per contest and has made 10-of-20 from behind the arc. Nicholls was held to 53 points at McNeese, but in eight games at Stopher Gym this season, the Colonels are averaging 72 points while shooting 46 percent from the field.

Lamar (10-9, 2-3) heads to Thibodaux looking for its second straight conference victory after picking up a two-point win against Northwestern State. The Lady Cardinals' three losses in the SLC have also come against the top teams in the East – one by McNeese and two from Central Arkansas.

The Lady Cardinals feature one of the best all-around players in the Southland, Kalis Loyd, who leads the team in points (15.5), rebounds (6.2), assists (3.1), steals (2.2) and total blocks (11). As a team, Lamar has struggled on the road this season, averaging 55.3 points with a 3-7 record.

Lamar leads the all-time series, 17-12, with the help of a current seven-game winning streak. LU has won three straight in Thibodaux, including a 70-56 victory last season in Stopher Gym.

The Colonels and Lady Cardinals will tipoff at approximately 3:30 p.m. A live video broadcast, courtesy of ThibodauxOnline.com, and live stats will be available at game time.