Final Stats CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas  – Junior guard KK Babin scored a game-high 19 and senior Alisha Allen added 17, including 11 points in the final five minutes as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team picked up a hard fought 60-51 victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday night at American Bank Center.

Nicholls improves to 17-10 on the year, but more importantly, is 9-7 in the Southland, putting the Colonels only two games behind third-place Lamar and a game back of McNeese. The Colonels host both teams next week, starting with a matchup against Lamar on Thursday.

Nicholls shot less than 40 percent from the field for the third straight game, but the Colonels were able to knock down 10 3-pointers in the game. The Colonels, who led 27-26 at the half, hit seven from behind the arc in the second half, including three huge ones from Allen in the final minutes.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3-24, 2-14) built a 42-37 lead with eight minutes remaining, but freshman Emani White hit two from downtown to trim the deficit to 44-43. Allen, who came into the game with four made 3-pointers on the season, gave Nicholls the lead with her first 3-ball of the game at 46-44.

But the Islanders, playing on Senior Night, reclaimed the lead after five straight points with four minutes to go. Allen answered with another 3 to tie the game, and after the teams traded buckets, the Garland, Texas native drained another from long range for a 54-51 lead with 2:28 left. The bucket sparked a 9-0 run to close the game as Nicholls won for the first time in Corpus Christi.

Allen, Babin and White combined for nine 3-pointers, with each knocking down three. White finished with 11 points and Jenny Nash had the final 3-ball, finishing with nine points.

The Islanders, who were led by Brandi Huff off the bench with 12 points, held a 45-40 edge on the boards. Allen led Nicholls with nine rebounds and Babin had a game-high five assists.

The Colonels will close out the regular season with two home games. Nicholls takes on Lamar on Thursday at Stopher Gym, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.