Final Stats Box Score

DeLAND, Fla.  – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team used a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull away against Bethune-Cookman and the Colonels never looked back as they defeated the Lady Wildcats, 73-56, in the Hatters Classic on Friday afternoon.

Nicholls (5-4) will look to claim the Hatters Classic title with a matchup against host Stetson (7-4) on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The Colonels had an all-out team effort on offense, getting double-digit scoring from four players while a total of six players had seven or more points. Nicholls also had 17 assists on 26 made field goals as the team finished with a 45.6 shooting percentage.

Senior KK Babin led the way, scoring 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Babin knocked down three 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater at the end of the first half that gave Nicholls a 31-29 lead.

Freshman Marina Lilly, who finished with a career-high 16 points, played a key role in the Colonels' second-half surge as she scored three consecutive field goals to break a 31-31 tie. Her classmate Taylor Morrison capped off the run with a 3-pointer to give Nicholls a 40-31 lead.

Leading by eight, Nicholls took a double-digit lead after three offensive rebounds led to a great pass inside by Emani White to Jenny Nash for a bucket. Nash, who had 10 points, then made the score 51-38 Colonels with a 3-pointer.

Bethune-Cookman never came closer than nine points the rest of the way before Nicholls pulled away for a 17-point victory. 

While White, the Southland's leading scorer, was held to 10 points below her season-average of 21, she nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points and a career high nine assists and eight rebounds. Junior Shay Arnick came off the bench for eight points and senior Jasmine Scott added seven.

Lady Wildcat Chastity Rene Taylor led all scorers with 25 points. Bethune was held to 33.9 percent shooting and had 19 turnovers which led to 24 Colonel points.