Final Stats Final Stats

CHICAGO – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team earned the first victory of its 2012-13 campaign, holding off a resilient Mississippi Valley State squad to pick up a 60-57 win on Saturday in the Maggie Dixon Classic.

Nicholls (1-1) carried a 31-21 lead after the first 20 minutes, but MVSU (0-2) fought back to go up 51-50 with five minutes remaining. After LiAnn McCarthy drained a three to give Nicholls back the lead, the Devilettes tied the game twice down the stretch, but Jasmine Scott came through with a pair of buckets in the final two minutes to secure the win.

KK Babin had an outstanding all-around effort for the Colonels, nearly recording a triple-double as she finished with 13 points, including two 3-pointers, eight rebounds and eight assists.  Jenny Nash had three from downtown, scoring 13 points and Alisha Allen rounded out the leaders with 12 points.

The Colonels shot 38.2 percent (21 of 55) from the floor and connected on seven 3-pointers. Nicholls outrebounded MVSU, 36-31.

The Devilettes finished 23 of 53 (43.4 percent) from the field, but were held scoreless by the Colonel defense for a four-and-half minute stretch in the first half. Leading 14-12 ten minutes into the game, the Colonels went on an 8-0 run, capped on a three from Babin. MVSU brought the deficit to seven, but Emani White sank a three to send the teams into the locker rooms with Nicholls leading 31-21.

Following the intermission, MVSU immediately chipped away at the deficit with an 8-1 run. From then on, Nicholls was able to maintain the advantage until Alia Frank hit a 3-pointer for the Devilettes to even the game at 48-all at the 5:44 mark. Frank came off the bench to lead MVSU with 13 points and seven rebounds.

In the final five minutes, the teams went back and forth until Scott was able to put the game away for Nicholls. The junior from Baton Rouge also added seven rebounds on the night.

Nicholls returns to court on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at UNO. Tipoff in New Orleans is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be listened to live on KNSU, with pregame coverage starting at 6:45 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
KK Babin, Nicholls
Amber Deane, Dayton – MVP
Katherine Harry, DePaul
Andrea Hoover, Dayton
Brittany Hrynko, DePaul
Ally Malott, Dayton