Final Stats THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team used a balance attack on offense and held Northwestern State to 34 percent from the field as the Colonels defeated the Lady Demons, 67-50, on Saturday at Stopher Gym, giving Nicholls a program-best 16 victories on the season.

Nicholls improves to 16-8 on the year and 8-5 in conference. The 16 wins surpass the previous record which was set last season after Nicholls defeated Central Arkansas in the Southland Conference Tournament.

In conference, with losses by the two first place teams – Sam Houston and Lamar, the Colonels are now only a game out of first behind three teams, trailing Oral Roberts as well. Nicholls will take on Lamar on Tuesday in Beamount at 5:30 p.m.

Four Colonels finished the day scoring in double figures, led by KK Babin with 16. Babin had an outstanding all-around game, making 6-of-13 from the field and had five rebounds and five assists. Babin was matched up on defense against reigning Southland Player of the Week Janelle Perez, who was limited to four points on 1-of-11 shooting.

LiAnn McCarthy and Emani White scored 15 each for Nicholls, while Alisha Allen added 10 points and two blocks. McCarthy led Nicholls with eight rebounds as the Colonels held a 33-30 edge on the boards.

Nicholls took a 30-24 lead at the half, and was up by as much as eight in the opening period. With the game even at 13 midway through, White ignited the Colonels off the bench, scoring five points as Nicholls went on a 10-2 run. The Lady Demons came within one before White sank her second 3-pointer, followed by Allen closing out the half with a bucket.

In the second, every time Northwestern State tried to make a comeback, Nicholls had an answer. Lady Demon Jasmine Bradley, who finished with 16 points, shrunk the lead down to 39-36 with a 3-pointer, but White nailed a jumper from long range to push the lead back to six.

Leading 47-43, McCarthy scored seven straight points as Nicholls went on an 11-0 run to lead 58-43 with three minutes remaining. The lead stayed in double figures the rest of the way and a late three by Babin made the final 67-50.

Nicholls shot 48 percent from the field and knocked down 5-of-10 from behind the arc. For the third straight game, the Colonel bench came up big, outscoring NSU's 24-8.

Saturday's matchup with Lamar will be the first of two against the Cardinals over the next three weeks. The Colonels split the series with LU last year, with each team winning at home.