THIBODAUX, La.  – After back-to-back stellar defensive performances, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to continue its strong play as the Colonels take on conference-frontrunner Central Arkansas on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stopher Gym.

KNSU 91.5 FM will broadcast the game live, with pregame coverage scheduled for 12:45 p.m. A live video feed is available on Colonels All-Access for a small fee, and live stats will be provided on geauxcolonels.com.

Both teams come into the matchup on winning streaks as each team claimed victories by double digits on Thursday. Nicholls (10-9, 5-3) never trailed against Oral Roberts en route to a 71-60 victory while Central Arkansas (13-6, 7-1) also led the entire game at McNeese before winning 65-50.

The Colonel offense was pumping on all cylinders in the first half against ORU as Nicholls scored 43 points, led mainly by its guards. Jenny Nash scored 14 points in the half, connecting on three 3-pointers as Nicholls had six in the first 20 minutes. Freshman Taylor Morrison also made one from behind the arc as did KK Babin and Emani White.

All four guards finished in double figures in the win, led by Morrison's career-high 15 points. The Baton Rouge native played a big part in the Colonels' advantage in the rebounding column as she finished with nine boards. White, the Southland's top scorer at 18.5 points per game, scored 12 points while Babin finished with 11.

While the offense was the main reason Nicholls led 43-33 at the break, the defense limited ORU to 27 points in the second half and caused 11 turnovers. The Colonels took advantage of the Golden Eagles' miscues, converting the turnovers into 12 points.

During the current three-game winning streak, Nicholls has held each opponent under 40 percent from the field. The Colonels have accomplished the feat eight times this season, resulting in a 7-1 record.

Although Nicholls has been playing stiff defense in the last few weeks, Central Arkansas brings the Southland's top-rated defense to Thibodaux. UCA ranks 18th in the nation in points allowed, giving up just 56.9 per game, and is third in the Southland in field goal percentage at .396. The Sugar Bears are in the bottom third of the league in 3-point defense (.322), but have surrendered only 67 made 3-pointers on the year. Nicholls has been one of the top shooting teams from behind the arc this season with 140 made 3-pointers.

UCA is led by three-time player of the week Courtney Duever. A 6-foot-1 senior, Duever is averaging 14.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and has 21 blocks. Against McNeese, Duever was one of three Sugar Bears to crack double figures in scoring, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Maggie Proffitt and Brianna Mullins round out the leading scorers for UCA, averaging 10.8 points and 10.6, respectively. Proffitt had a game-high 17 points against the Cowgirls while Mullins finished with 12.

UCA leads the all-time series 11-4 and has won the last four in Thibodaux. The Sugar Bears defeated Nicholls 72-56 in the conference opener last season before Babin scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Colonels to their first ever win in Conway, 68-62.