For immediate release: February 24, 2012
Jamie Bustos: 985-448-4281

Colonels Begin Final Home Stand on Saturday against McNeese

THIBODAUX  – With only three games remaining on the schedule, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team will start its final home stretch on Saturday as the Colonels host Southland-defending champions McNeese State. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Before the game, the Colonel women's basketball program will host its Second Annual Alumnae Game at 11:30 a.m. in Stopher Gym. Following the game at 12:30, the winner of Alumna of the Year will be announced as well as a dedication ceremony for the new locker room.

Nicholls (13-13, 6-7) is coming off a 20-point loss at first-place Central Arkansas and currently sits in seventh place in the Southland Conference standings. The Colonels have a game lead over Southeastern Louisiana, who Nicholls plays in the season finale, and three teams in the West Division are still alive at 4-9. Four teams, including McNeese State (20-7, 10-3), have already clinched berths in the conference tournament, leaving seven teams fighting for the last four spots. Northwestern State is the only team out of contention with a 1-12 conference record.

While the Colonels were held to 53 points in Lake Charles in the last meeting against McNeese, Nicholls is averaging over 71 points per game at home this season. Overall, Nicholls ranks fourth in the SLC in scoring (66.2 ppg), just a tenth behind McNeese (66.3). However, the Cowgirls feature the league's second-rated scoring defense (54.3), while Nicholls is ninth (66.2).

In the Colonels' last outing at UCA, Alisha Allen, KK Babin and Sumar Leslie and all scored in double figures and currently rank in the top 15 in scoring in the Southland. Leslie is fourth at 16.4 ppg, Allen is 12th at 13.3 and Babin is next at 13.2.

McNeese, who has won nine straight against the Colonels, is led by twins, Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett.  Ashlyn is fifth in the SLC in scoring at 16.1 ppg, with her sister ranking 10th at 14.4. In the Cowgirls' victory against Nicholls on Jan. 23, the duo combined for 36 points.

McNeese leads the all-time series 52-12. The last time the Colonels defeated McNeese was in the 2006-07 campaign, where Nicholls swept the season series.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. A live video broadcast, courtesy of ThibodauxOnline.com, will be available.