Final Stats HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team let an 11-point second-half lead slip by the wayside against Southeastern, but KK Babin scored eight points down the stretch to help lead Nicholls to a 71-65 victory Saturday at the University Center.

With the win, Nicholls moves to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Southland play. Southeastern drops to 7-8 and has lost its first four conference games.

While Babin, who scored 14 points and had a season-high nine assists, led the way in the final minutes, senior Alisha Allen paced the team in scoring, finishing with her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. LiAnn McCarthy scored 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting and Jasmine Scott tacked on 13 points.

In an offense dominated first half, the Colonels shot 52.9 percent and led for almost the entire period, with the exception of the first few minutes. Southeastern's last lead came at 8-6 before Nicholls held a slight advantage the rest of the way.

Early on, the Colonels used their defense to generate offense, getting several layups off steals as they took a 10-8 after Jenny Nash found Scott following a takeaway. Nash and Scott connected once again at the 13:50 mark, pushing the Colonel lead to 19-12.

With less than eight minutes until intermission, the Lady Lions cut the deficit to 26-24; however, Nicholls scored the game's next eight points, capped on back-to-back jumpers from Babin, to grab its largest lead of the half.  Nicholls went into the break up 40-31.

In the second half, Nicholls went up 11 at the 16:46 mark when Allen made a field goal, putting the score at 46-35. But the Colonels' offense stalled over the next six minutes, scoring only four points as SLU clawed back to within five with 10 minutes to go.

Nicholls continued to lead until the 4:06 mark, when Elizabeth Styles, who had a game-high 14 assists, connected inside the paint to even the game at 55-55. On the Colonels' next possession, Babin sank a deep 3-pointer, but Southeastern's Nanna Pool scored on a putback to make it 58-57 Colonels. Babin then drained another long 3-pointer, pushing Nicholls' lead back to four.

But like last season's matchup at University Arena, the game came down to the wire as SLU evened the score at 61-all with two minutes remaining. Allen then came through with a bucket underneath before McCarthy connected on a jumper with 1:12 to go. SLU's Aja Gibson scored inside to bring it within two before Babin sliced through the defense for a layup with 30 seconds left.

SLU scored one more time before Emani White and Nash each made two free throws to make the final 71-65.

Nicholls finished the day shooting 48.3 percent, while SLU shot 47.5.  Despite Allen's efforts on the glass, the Lady Lions held a 38-28 advantage in rebounding.

The Colonels tallied 19 assists in the victory, with Nash recording a career-best six. Nash also chipped in with three steals.

Nicholls wraps up its four-game conference road slate next week, starting Thursday at Northwestern State at 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.