HAMMOND, La. – Senior Jenny Nash had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, fellow classmate Shay Arnick scored 13 points and freshman Ekiya Gray added 11 as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 77-74, on Saturday evening in their regular season finale at the University Center.
 
Not only did the trio lead the Colonels (17-12, 13-5 SLC) in scoring, but all three came up with clutch baskets down the stretch. In a game that saw 15 lead changes and 11 ties, Nicholls found itself trailing Southeastern (7-22, 3-15 SLC) by three with less than three minutes remaining. Arnick scored inside to trim the lead to one and following a Lady Lion free throw, Nash hit her third 3-pointer of the game to give Nicholls a 73-72 lead with 1:14 remaining.
 
Nash then came up with a steal off an Arnick deflection which led to an outstanding bounce pass through two defenders by freshman point guard Tia Charles to Gray, who made a layup with 45 seconds left on the clock. SLU answered immediately with a bucket inside to come within one and then fouled Nash, sending her to the line for two free throws.
 
Playing in her final regular season game as a Colonel, Nash calmly sank both, giving Nicholls a 75-72 lead with 21 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Southeastern's Elizabeth Styles, who had a game-high 21 points, got off a 3-pointer in the final seconds, but it hit off the rim and the Colonels escaped with the victory.
 
With the win, Nicholls locks up the No. 3 seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas. The victory not only gave the Colonels their highest seeding ever, but it also matches the program's second highest win total for a single season at 17, set by last year's squad, and extends the team's record for Southland victories to 13.
 
Although Nash struggled from the field at 4 of 18, she came up with 10 points in the second half to help the Colonels erase a 34-30 deficit at the break. The Lady Lions held a 31-20 advantage with five minutes to go in the opening period, but the Colonels received two buckets each from reserves Marina Lilly and Jovana Mandic to outscore SLU, 10-3, to close out the half.
 
The second half alone saw nine lead changes and seven ties. The squads went back-and-forth until Southeastern grabbed the lead at the 5:22 mark and stayed in front until Nash's final 3-pointer.
 
The Colonels finished with season-high 19 assists on 29 field goals, led by a career-high eight by Charles. Nash added five and Lilly, who had eight points and seven rebounds, chipped in with three.
 
Nicholls will return to action at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, in the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas at the Merrell Center. The No. 3-seed Colonels will play the winner of Thursday's first-round matchup between Central Arkansas and Northwestern State. The Colonels swept Central Arkansas this season and split the series with Northwestern State, with both teams winning at home.
 
For tickets for the entire tournament, please visit the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office or call at 985-448-4790.