Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University junior KK Babin scored a team-high 17 points to surpass 1,000 points for her career, but Sam Houston State outmuscled the Colonel women's basketball team inside with a 44-28 rebounding edge as the Bearkats defeated Nicholls 70-63 on Saturday at Stopher Gym.

With the loss, Nicholls drops to 12-7 on the year and 4-4 in conference, while Sam Houston remains in first place at 7-1 in the Southland and 11-9 overall.

Babin headed into the contest needing 10 points to become the 11th player in program history to reach 1,000. The native of Gonzalez, La. reached the milestone on a free throw with 12:06 remaining in the game. Babin was one of four Colonels to score in double figures, followed by Alisha Allen (14), Jenny Nash (13) and LiAnn McCarthy (11).

With the huge rebounding advantage, Sam Houston outscored Nicholls in second-chance points, 25-10, as the Bearkats had 15 offensive rebounds. Sequeena Thomas led five double-digit scorers for Sam Houston, finishing with a game-high 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Both teams hit nine 3-pointers on the day and combined for 13 in the first half. The first 20 minutes saw four ties and five lead changes as Sam Houston led 35-33 at the break after last-second free throws by Britni Martin.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Nicholls scored back-to-back field goals to take the lead, going up two points on a Nash layup. McCarthy then broke a 40-all tie with a jumper at the 16-minute mark, but it would be the last time that Nicholls would lead for the rest of the game.

Thomas tied the game with a bucket after an offensive rebound, then the Bearkats took a 45-42 lead on a 3-pointer. Although Sam Houston's advantage never grew to larger than six, it wasn't until a Babin 3-pointer with 3:29 remaining that the Colonels closed the gap to two points, 61-59.But the Bearkats scored the game's next eight points as they went on to record their fourth straight victory over the Colonels.

Nicholls returns to the court next Thursday, taking on Oral Roberts on the road. The Colonels defeated ORU earlier this season, 69-66.