LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team found itself down 11 points in the second half against McNeese State, but the Colonels turned up the pressure on defense to fuel a decisive 17-1 run as Nicholls defeated the Cowgirls, 73-68, on Saturday afternoon in Burton Coliseum.
 
With the win, Nicholls (15-12, 11-5 SLC) matches its program record for conference wins and remains in third place in the standings. With two games left on the schedule, Nicholls is in position for at least one bye in the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
The Colonels had four players score in double figures, led by a game-high 23 points from Jenny Nash, but it was the defense that turned the tide. Midway through the second half, Nicholls full-court pressed McNeese State (16-12, 10-7 SLC), forcing the Cowgirls into 11 second-half turnovers which led to 11 points.
 
McNeese closed out the first half with two 3-pointers to head into the break with a 39-32 lead, and the run continued into the second period as the Cowgirls reeled off the first five points for a 44-32 advantage.  At the 12:52 mark, McNeese capitalized on one of the Colonels' 21 turnovers in the game for an easy layup which gave the Cowgirls a 51-40 lead.
 
On the next possession, Nash sank one of her three 3-pointers on the day and the field goal would ignite the Colonels, leading to the 17-1 run. In a five-minute stretch, Nicholls limited McNeese to a lone free throw as they took a 57-52 lead at the 7:52 mark and never looked back.
 
The lead swelled to eight on an Emani White 3-pointer with five minutes to go, but the Cowgirls managed to cut the deficit to 67-66 after a pair of Jayln Johnson free throws with less than two minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets and with 20 seconds left, Nash drove the baseline and banked home a shot inside to give Nicholls a 71-68 lead.
 
With the clock winding down, the Cowgirls' Allison Baggett heaved up a 3-pointer to tie the game, but was off the mark. Shay Arnick corralled the rebound for the Colonels and was fouled, then put the game away with a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining.
 
Arnick was one of three Colonels to score 10 points in the victory, joining Tia Charles and Marina Lilly. As a team, Nicholls shot 43 percent from the field, helped by Nash's 6 of 9 effort. Nicholls had a 45-33 advantage in rebounds, led by eight each from Arnick and Charles.
 
Amber Donnes paced McNeese, which shot 35 percent from the field, with 17 points and Frederica Haywood had 13 points and 10 rebounds.  
 
The Colonels will play their final home game of the season on Thursday, March 5, against Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. Before the game, Nicholls will honor its 2015 senior class, which is the winningest class in program history. The four seniors to be honored are Shay Arnick, Syleida Ellis, JonMarie Guillory and Jenny Nash.
 
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