Final Stats THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team had four players score in double figures - led by a career-high 22 from Jenny Nash – and made 11 3-pointers as the Colonels kept their first-round bye hopes alive with an 84-77 win against Lamar Thursday night at Stopher Gym.

Nicholls (18-10, 10-7) needed to defeat third-place Lamar (19-9, 11-6) to stay in contention for a top-four finish in the Southland standings. The victory sets up a showdown with McNeese State Saturday at Stopher Gym, with the winner guaranteed a bye in the Southland Conference Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

For the second straight game, Nicholls reached double digits in 3-point field goals, helped by draining seven in the first half. Nash, who matched her career-high with six from behind the arc, led the way while KK Babin and Alisha Allen knocked down two each.

Babin flirted with a triple-double for the second time this season, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Allen poured in 19 points while Jasmine Scott had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Playing in their first home game since Feb. 16, the Colonels came out firing, knocking down two 3s to start the game. But Lamar's Gia Ayers also hit two from long range, leading LU to a 12-8 advantage. Allen then gave Nicholls an 18-17 lead with a jumper and the Colonels never trailed for the rest of the half.

With four minutes until intermission, Lamar used a 5-0 run to come within one, 27-26, before Nash converted on a rare four-point play. Nicholls grabbed its largest lead of the period at 40-31 on a putback by Syleida Ellis before going into the break up 42-34.

Nicholls opened the second half in the same fashion as it started the game, getting two 3s before Scott made a basket-plus-one to give Nicholls its largest lead, 51-38, with just two minutes off the clock.

The Colonels maintained a comfortable lead over the next 10 minutes until the Lady Cardinals made it a one-possession game , 69-66, on a deep 3-ball from Shauna Long at the seven-minute mark. But Nicholls answered the call, with an Allen field goal starting a 5-0 spurt.

LU made one final push with three minutes to go, coming within two at 74-72 on a layup by Kalis Loyd, who led the Lady Cardinals with 19 points. Babin scored the Colonels' next four points before Nash sealed the game with her sixth 3-pointer, doubling Nicholls' lead at 81-75 with a minute remaining.

In the final 60 seconds, Loyd made her final field goal before three free throws by Emani White gave Nicholls the seven-point victory.

Against the Southland's best defense, Nicholls shot 43 percent from the field, fueled by a 52 percent clip in the second half. The Colonels made 11-of-24 from behind the arc and held a 48-45 edge on the boards.

LU shot 39.7 percent from the field and made eight 3-pointers, making 29 percent of its attempts.

Saturday's matchup with McNeese will be the final game of the regular season. Before the contest, Nicholls will honor its lone senior, Alisha Allen.