THIBODAUX, La. – Needing only seven points to reach 1,000 for her career, senior
Jenny Nash surpassed the mark with three early 3-pointers as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team made eight from long range in the first half to build a 25-point lead and the Colonels went on to cruise to a lopsided 67-34 victory over Incarnate Word on Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gym.
Nash, who became the 12th Colonel in program history to reach the 1000-point plateau, led all scorers with a game-high 14 points. She finished 4 of 7 from 3-point range as the team made a blistering 64.7 percent from behind the arc, knocking down 11 of 17.
Taylor Morrison also had two 3-pointers and scored 12 points off the bench while
Shay Arnick chipped in with 11 points.
The win was the third consecutive victory for Nicholls (10-10, 6-3 SLC), which improved to 6-2 at home. The Colonels shot over 50 percent from the field for the second time in the last three games, and held the opposition under 27 percent shooting for the second straight outing. UIW (5-14, 2-6 SLC), which dressed only seven players in the loss, hit just 14 of 52 from the field. Melina Marritt led UIW with 11 points.
The Colonels came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, using four 3-pointers to take a 16-4 lead after six minutes of play. After six straight points by the Cardinals, Nash broke the 1,000-point mark with her third 3-pointer of the game, which gave Nicholls a 19-10 lead with 11 minutes until intermission. Nicholls would then blow the contest open, outscoring Incarnate Word 18-2 for the rest of the half for a 37-12 lead.
The Cardinals made just 4 of 25 from the field in the first 20 minutes and had 10 turnovers. While Nicholls had one of its best shooting performances in the first half, the Colonels turned the ball over 10 times and finished the game with 26.
In the second half, things did not fare much better for the visitors with the Red and Gray maintaining at least a 24-point lead throughout.
Nicholls will return the trip to Incarnate Word on Wednesday, Feb. 4, taking on UIW in San Antonio. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
