THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to recover from its worst loss in conference play as the Colonels take on defending regular season champion Central Arkansas on Saturday at the Farris Center.

Nicholls (12-8, 4-5) and Central Arkansas (13-7, 6-3) played earlier this season in Thibodaux, with the Sugar Bears picking up a 72-56 win. UCA leads the all-time series 11-3 and is undefeated at home.

On Thursday at Oral Roberts, Nicholls statistically played its worst game of the season, shooting 36 percent from the field, 12.5 percent from 3-point range and had a season-high 31 turnovers. Despite heading into the game with the league's best field goal percentage, Nicholls has shot only 39 percent as a team in its last five games, including 29 percent from behind the arc. The Colonels have also struggled on the boards during the span as the opposition has 51 more rebounds.

Senior Alisha Allen continues to be a consistent factor in the Colonels' lineup, netting 18 points at ORU. Allen, who leads the team at 15.4 points per game, currently ranks sixth in the Southland in scoring average.

Central Arkansas has been a slump lately as well, losing three of its last five and needed overtime to defeat Lamar. The Sugar Bears also lost on Thursday as Southeastern La. snapped UCA's 22-game home winning streak with a 70-64 victory.

The duo of Megan Herbert and Courtney Duever combined for 53 points for UCA, but the rest of the team managed only 11 on 5-of-23 shooting. Herbert, who had 33 points and 11 rebounds in the first matchup with the Colonels, leads the Southland in scoring (19.1 ppg) and is second in rebounding (12.7).

Following Saturday's game, Nicholls will have the week off before starting a three-game homestand on Feb. 9 as the Colonels host Southeastern. Tipoff at Stopher Gym will be at 12 p.m.