BEAUMONT, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team held a four-point lead over Lamar with nine minutes to go, but the Lady Cardinals used a 15-4 run to take the teams' Southland Conference opener, 67-62, Saturday evening at the Montagne Center.
 
Nicholls (4-8, 0-1 SLC) was led in scoring by senior Jenny Nash with 15 points. Nash scored 14 before the break to keep the Colonels within striking distance as Nicholls trailed 30-27 at the half. Tia Charles added 11 points, but was charged with 10 turnovers. Nicholls struggled taking care of the ball, finishing with 28 turnovers in the loss.
 
Lamar (4-8, 1-0 SLC) had three players reach double figures in scoring, paced by JaMeisha Edwards with 20 points. Nicholls held Edwards to 5-of-19 from the field as LU shot 30 percent as a team, but she accounted for eight of the Lady Cardinals' 20 free throws.
 
For the game, Nash started the scoring off by knocking down a 3-pointer to give Nicholls the early lead. Ekiya Gray added a steal and a layup before Charles made a 3-ball to make the score 8-2. Before the first media timeout at the 16:00 minute mark, Lamar caught fire, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers to gain an 11-8 advantage.
 
Later in the half with the game tied, the Colonels went on a five-minute scoring drought, but Lamar could only extend its lead to 20-14. LU led by as much as nine before Nash hit a pair of 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run with one minute to go. The Cardinals added two free throws to go into the break leading by three.
 
Nicholls tied the game twice in the early minutes of the second period and took the lead 34-32 after a pair of free throws by Charles. Later in the half with a one-point lead, Veronica Ryan made a 3-pointer at the 8:50 mark, putting Nicholls ahead 49-45.
 
Lamar answered with a 3-pointer by Edwards and eventually regained the advantage at 52-51 after three offensive rebounds led to a bucket inside. The Lady Cardinals then pushed the lead to 60-53 with four minutes remaining after capping the 15-4 spurt.
 
After falling behind as much as 11 points, Nicholls made one last push in the final minute. Hope Pawlowski started the run with a putback, Charles added a free throw and then picked up a steal and a bucket to make the score 67-62 with 35 seconds to go. Veronica Ryan then stole the end bounds and found Nash open for a three, but the senior misfired. Lamar would then run out the clock to secure the win.
 
The Colonels shot 37 percent from the field and connected on eight 3-pointers. Nicholls was outrebounded 44-41, getting eight each from Nash and Pawlowski.
 
Nicholls will host Houston Baptist on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. For tickets, visit geauxcolonels.com or call the ticket office at 985-448-4790.