Live Video | Live Audio | Live StatsKATY, Texas – The No. 3 seed Nicholls State University women's basketball team will play No. 6 seed Northwestern State in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas at the Leonard E. Merrell Center at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13.
Nicholls (17-12, 13-5 SLC) earned a bye through the first round after winning 10 of its last 12 games, including a 59-40 victory at home against Northwestern State. The Lady Demons (16-14, 10-8 SLC), who earned the Southland Tournament crown last season, defeated Central Arkansas on Thursday, 63-49.
The Colonels will be making their seventh appearance overall in the Southland Tournament and fourth consecutive. Nicholls captured a win in 2012 over top-seed Central Arkansas, 79-59, and also won last season in a first-round matchup with Oral Roberts, 77-66. In both of the victories, the Colonels made a tournament record 14 3-pointers.
Led by Southland Co-Head Coach of the Year
DoBee Plaisance, Nicholls heads into the postseason averaging 63.7 points while allowing 63.5 points and ranks in the middle of the pack in the Southland in almost every statistical category. Two exceptions for the Colonels, however, have been 3-point shooting and steals.
As a team, Nicholls has made 196 3-pointers, second most in the SLC, and ranks second in percentage at 33.7. Senior
Jenny Nash, who was named second team All-Southland earlier this week after averaging 13.9 points on the year, has a league high 79 3-pointers made and is shooting at a 39.9 percent clip, which ranks second best in the Southland.
On the defensive side, the Colonels have been in the top 10 in the nation in steals, averaging 11.7 per game. Nicholls ended the regular season with three players ranked in the top 10 of the Southland –
Tia Charles (2.4/3
rd),
Hope Pawlowski (2.2/6
th) and Nash (2.0/9
th).
Northwestern State entered the tournament averaging 60.4 points while allowing 61.7. The Lady Demons are one of the best teams in taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnover margin at plus-3.3.
The Lady Demons shot 43 percent in their first-round win over UCA and received a game-high 19 points from Keisha Lee. Janelle Perez, who received first team All-Southland honors, added 16 points and Presley Owens finished with 10.
Nicholls and NSU split the season series, with both teams winning at home. The Lady Demons won in Natchitoches, 74-71, while the Colonels avenged the loss with a 59-40 victory in Thibodaux. The teams also met in last season's tournament with Northwestern State eliminating Nicholls in the second round with a 69-65 win.
The winner of Friday's game will advance to the semifinals to take on No. 3 Lamar. The game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
