Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. -  In a game that featured only two lead changes, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team led for most of the second half against Abilene Christian including a six-point advantage with five minutes remaining, but the red-hot Wildcats closed out the game with a 13-4 run to hand the Colonels a 71-68 defeat Sunday afternoon at Stopher Gym.
 
The loss dropped Nicholls to 3-10 on the season and 1-2 in the Southland. Abilene Christian stayed undefeated in conference play at 3-0 and captured its eighth consecutive victory to improve to 12-2.
 
Senior LiAnn McCarthy led Nicholls with her second 19-point effort since the start of conference, while Marina Lilly continued to dominate inside with her fourth consecutive double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds).  Freshman Cassidy Barrios added 14 points and three assists, and Taylor Morrison chipped in with nine points off the bench.
 
Nicholls posted better percentages than ACU from the field (.419-.377) and 3-point line (.438-.300), but the Wildcats had a significant advantage at the free throw line. ACU knocked down 25 of 31 (.806) from the charity stripe and Nicholls made just 64.3 percent (9 of 14). The Colonels did not go to the line in the first and fourth quarters, while the visitors drained 17 of 21 in the two periods.
 
Despite the difference in free throws, Nicholls saw a 64-58 lead with five minutes to go after Lilly made a bucket inside. ACU cut it to one before a Lilly offensive rebound led to a layup by Hope Pawlowski to push the advantage to 68-65 with 2:16 on the clock.
 
On the next possession, two Colonels collided trying to collect a rebound on a missed ACU shot, but the Wildcats came away with the ball and Whitney West took advantage of the defenders on the floor as she drained a wide-open 3-pointer to tie the game.
 
McCarthy was off on a 3-point attempt for Nicholls on the next possession and Alexis Malone, who scored 19 for ACU, made 1-of-2 free throws for a one-point lead with 47 seconds to go.  The Colonels then got off a wild shot on the ensuing possession, and West converted on two more at the line at the 14 second mark. On the final play of the game, McCarthy had a good look on the wing for a 3-pointer, but it was off the mark as ACU escaped with the victory.
 
Both teams shot over 50 percent in the first quarter, but the plus-9 free throw advantage for ACU helped give them a 30-18 lead. The defenses took over in the second as the teams combined to make just 7 of 28 from the field as ACU led 40-36 at the half.
In the third, McCarthy connected on a 3 to give Nicholls a 43-42 lead at the 8-minute mark. ACU tied the game once early in the fourth on a 3-ball from Malone, but McCarthy answered with a 3 to give Nicholls the lead back. The Colonels maintained the advantage until the final minute of the game.
 
Nicholls will hit the road for its next two games, playing Sam Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Colonels and Sam Houston will square off Wednesday (Jan. 13) at 6:30 p.m.