THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to close out 2015, as well as its non-conference schedule, on a high note as the Colonels take on Grambling State on Tuesday night (Dec. 29) at 6 p.m. at Stopher Gym.
Nicholls (2-7) has dropped its last four contests, while Grambling State (2-8) brings a three-game skid to Thibodaux. Tuesday will mark the final non-conference game for the Red and Gray as they open Southland play on Saturday (Jan. 2) at home against Lamar.
The Colonels last played on Dec. 18 in a 63-49 loss at home against Jacksonville State. Nicholls trailed by just four points at the break; however, the third-quarter struggles which have hampered the squad all year continued as the Colonels were outscored 14-7. For the season, Nicholls has been outscored by an average of 5.1 points in the third period.
Nicholls enters the contest averaging 58.8 points, while shooting .375 from the field. Junior guard
Hope Pawlowski poured in a career-high 18 points against Jacksonville State and she leads Nicholls in scoring at 11.8 points per contest. Freshman
Cassidy Barrios is second in scoring at 9.7 points and has proved to be an all-around asset as she has contributed 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals through the first nine games.
Despite the current losing streak, the Colonels continue to be one of the nation's best in steals as the team is 12th in the NCAA with 12.4 per game. Pawlowski is averaging a staggering 3.1 steals so far this season which is good for 16th in the country. In four games at Stopher Gym, the Colonels are averaging 14.5 steals.
Grambling State is coming off a 72-57 loss at Alabama on Dec. 20. Against the Crimson Tide, Monisha Neal paced GSU with 16 points and nine rebounds. She finished 2 of 4 from behind the arc, but the Tigers struggled as a whole from long range, connecting on just 4 of 16.
For the season, Grambling is averaging 60.2 points on 37.7 percent shooting. On defense, they are allowing 76.5 points on 44.5 percent from the field. GSU is also averaging double figures in steals at 10.6.
Nicholls will close out its three-game home stand on Saturday with its conference opener against Lamar. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 1 p.m.
