THIBODAUX, La. – Behind a career-high 26 points from Jenny Nash, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team won its fifth consecutive game by defeating McNeese State, 70-59, on Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gym.
 
With the win, Nicholls improved to 12-10 on the year and 8-3 in conference. The Colonels stay a game back in the loss column of Lamar and Stephen F. Austin, who both play later this evening. The loss dropped McNeese to 12-10 overall and 6-5 in the Southland.
 
Nash went the distance for the Colonels, knocking down 5 of 9 3-pointers en route to her career day. Nicholls, which held a 16-point advantage at the half, saw its lead shrivel to seven after eight minutes in the second half. But Nash answered the run with a 3-pointer and a layup and the lead stayed in double figures for the rest of the game.
 
Over the last six games, the senior from Houston has made 20 3-pointers on 57 percent shooting. As a team, Nicholls made four in the first half, getting two from Nash, one from Emani White, who scored all 10 of her points in the period, and one from Taylor Morrison.
 
The game was close through the first eight minutes until Nicholls went on a 12-2 run to take a 24-13 lead. The Colonels made three 3-pointers during the stretch, including two by Nash. Still leading by 11, White hit a 3-ball and added two free throws before Marina Lilly scored inside to cap a 7-0 run which pushed the Colonels' margin to 37-19 right before the break.
 
McNeese's second-half run was fueled by Jalyn Johnson and Frederica Haywood, bringing the deficit to 46-39 with 12:04 remaining in the game. But after Nash scored five straight, the Colonels led by as much as 18 in the final period en route to their fifth win over McNeese in the last six meetings.
 
The Colonel defense held their opposition to less than 60 points for the fourth straight outing, and the Red and Gray turned 18 Cowgirl turnovers into 27 points. Nicholls also dominated the glass, grabbing 20 on the offensive end to outrebound McNeese, 42-32.
 
McNeese shot 47 percent from the field and was led in scoring by Haywood with 15 points.
 
The Colonels will have the week off before continuing its three-game home stand on Saturday, Feb. 14 against Southeastern Louisiana. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is slated for 1 p.m.