THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will kick off an ESPN3 basketball doubleheader at Stopher Gym as the Colonels look to notch their third consecutive win, taking on Oral Roberts Thursday at 5 p.m.

The matchup between Nicholls (9-9, 4-3) and ORU (5-12, 4-3) will air live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app, with David Saltzman and Van Chancellor on the call. As always, audio for the contest will be available on KNSU 91.5 FM, with pregame coverage scheduled to begin at 4:45.

In addition to the ESPN3 broadcast, the game will be a White Out as Nicholls hosts its annual "Stuff Stopher" promotion.  All fans and students are encouraged to wear white.

After suffering a three-game losing streak, Nicholls put itself back in the thick of the conference title race by winning back-to-back games. Following a home win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Colonels wrangled McNeese State 71-63 on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to record their second straight win over the Cowgirls in Lake Charles. In a matchup that featured the Southland's top two scorers, guard Emani White led Nicholls with 22 points while the Colonel defense limited Allison Baggett to just five points.

One key reason for the Colonels' quick turnaround has been senior guard KK Babin, who scored in double figures in each of the wins after seven straight games of single digits in the points column. Against McNeese, Babin stuffed the stats sheet, finishing with 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and five steals.

Led by White and Babin, the Colonels have significantly reduced their turnovers in conference play, averaging nearly three less since the beginning of 2014. Nicholls gave up the ball only 10 times against McNeese, including just three in the second half. The Colonels lead the Southland in turnover margin at plus-4.22, helped largely by Babin's 9 assist, two turnover day in the last outing.

Nicholls heads into the matchup averaging 68.2 points per game, which ranks third in the conference. White remains as the league's top scorer at 18.8 ppg, with Jenny Nash second on the team at 10.3 ppg. Although only two players are scoring in double figures, Babin , Marina Lilly and Jasmine Scott are all averaging at least eight points per contest.

ORU comes to Louisiana on a two-game winning streak as well after winning at home last week against Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State. Behind 24 points from senior Christian Key, the Golden Eagles knocked off conference frontrunners SFA, 64-55. Key, who leads ORU in scoring (14.4 ppg) and assists (3.1), scored 15 in the win over the Lady Demons.

The Golden Eagles will be looking for their first win on the road this season as they are 0-9 away from the Mabee Center. Two of the losses came in conference play after setbacks at Southland-newcomers Abilene Christian (70-56) and Incarnate Word (67-64).

ORU ranks 12th in the Southland in scoring (61.9) and points allowed (72.3). On the road, the Golden Eagles have scored 70 points only once, which came in an overtime loss at Marquette.

Despite ranking 12th in scoring defense, ORU features the Southland's top shot blocker, Sarah Shelton, who is averaging 2.18 blocks per game. Although Shelton had only one block in the two meetings against Nicholls last season, she was a huge factor, averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. This season, she is at 5.5 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 7.9.

The brief all-time series between the schools is even at 1-1 after both teams claimed victories at home last year. Nicholls won in a nail-biter in Thibodaux, 69-66, before ORU handed the Colonels their worst loss in conference play last season, 84-56.

Nicholls will wrap up the week against first-place Central Arkansas on Saturday, Feb. 1. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 1 p.m.