THIBODAUX, La.  – Winners of three straight, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team hosts rival Northwestern State on Saturday at Stopher Gym, looking to set a new program record in victories as well as stay in contention for its first Southland Conference championship.

A live video stream will be available for the 68th meeting between the in-state rivals on Colonels All-Access. The game can also be listened to on Nicholls Campus Radio, KNSU 91.5 FM.

The Colonels (15-8, 7-5) escaped with a one-point victory on Thursday against Stephen F. Austin to notch their third consecutive Southland win. Nicholls has moved up to a fourth-place tie with McNeese State and holds the tiebreaker against the Cowgirls as the Colonels won in Lake Charles, 78-61.  With the loss by Sam Houston on Thursday, Nicholls is two games back from first place.

Ranking as one of the conference's best shooting teams, the Colonels were held to under 40 percent from the field against SFA, but used a mixture of defense and free throw shooting to claim the victory. Nicholls recorded 11 steals off 24 Ladyjack turnovers, held SFA to 39 percent from the field and connected on 15-of-21 at the line.

While senior and Colonel leading scorer Alisha Allen (15 ppg) paced Nicholls with 14 points against SFA, the Colonels had great contributions off the bench. Junior Jasmine Scott, who is second in the Southland with a .579 field goal percentage, scored in double figures for the eighth time this season, while freshmen Emani White and Hope Pawlowski combined for 15 points. Over the last two games, the bench has accounted for a total of 62 points.

The Colonels will be looking to earn a split against the Lady Demons (9-14, 5-8), who erased a 15-point deficit against Nicholls on Jan. 17 in Natchitoches to pick up a 64-55 win. However, Northwestern State has been a completely different team away from Prather Coliseum, going 1-11 in road games including an 0-6 mark in conference.

The Lady Demons, who are averaging 53.5 points per game, are led on offense by Jasmine Upchurch (12.3 ppg), Janelle Perez (11.0) and Keisha Lee (11.0). The trio combined for 45 of NSU's 64 points in the first meeting against the Colonels, headed by Lee with 22.

With the win versus Nicholls earlier this season, Northwestern State improved its all-time record against the Colonels to 60-7. Of the Colonels' seven victories, five have come in Thibodaux.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Tipoff: 2 p.m.
Radio: 91.5 FM KNSU (Thibodaux, La.)
Video Stream: Colonels All-Access
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com