Final Stats Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss.  – For the second consecutive game, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team could not hold on to a second-half lead as the Colonels closed out their non-conference scheduled with an 84-66 loss at Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon.

Nicholls ends the year with a 5-6 record, giving the Colonels its first losing non-conference record for the first time in last three seasons. Southern Miss improves to 10-2 on the year and has won 13 of 15 meetings against the Colonels.

Emani White and Jenny Nash led the Colonel offense as the duo combined for 39 points, led by White's game-high of 20. The tandem made six 3-pointers on the day, with White knocking down two in the first five minutes of the second half which helped extend the Colonels' 31-29 halftime lead to eight points.

Nicholls started off slow in the opening half, falling behind 21-11 after 10 minutes of play. Back-to-back buckets by Jasmine Scott sparked an 11-0 run, giving the Colonels their first lead of the game. After the Lady Eagles regained the advantage at 29-26 with less than a minute to go, a KK Babin 3-pointer knotted the score before Scott closed out the period with a field goal to give Nicholls the lead at the break.

Each of the Colonel starters scored at least five points in the first half, with White and Babin netting seven each. Nicholls held USM to 31 percent shooting, but the Lady Eagles used 11 free throws to keep the score close.

After Nicholls saw its largest lead at 44-36 with 15 minutes remaining, the Lady Eagles put together a decisive 24-6 run over the next seven minutes to take a 60-50 lead. Nicholls cut the deficit to six after free throws by Nash and a jumper by White; however, Southern Miss shot a blistering 75 percent in the second half to cruise to the 18-point victory.

Nicholls shot just 36 percent from the field and had 22 turnovers. The Colonels had a slim 37-35 rebounding edge, helped by 16 on the offensive glass.

Southern Miss finished with a 54 percent field goal percentage, aided by its 24-of-32 second-half effort. Tamara Jones had 19 points while Jamierra Faulkner finished with 17 points and seven assists. The Lady Eagle bench outscored the Colonels', 38-4, led by Kierra Jordan's 18.

Nicholls returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 2 in its conference opener against New Orleans. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.