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THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team sank 14 3-pointers to match its program record and received a career-high 18 points from Taylor Morrison as the Colonels picked up a Southland Conference victory over Northwestern State, 70-61, on Wednesday night at Stopher Gym.
 
The win was the third consecutive for the Colonels, which improved to 4-2 in the Southland and 6-10 overall. It also sets up a huge matchup against Central Arkansas on Saturday at Stopher Gym. UCA plays at New Orleans on Thursday and is currently in second place in the conference at 4-1. Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the men to start at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
With the loss, Northwestern State fell to 5-2 in league play and 11-7 overall.
 
It marked the third time in program history that Nicholls connected on 14 3-pointers, but it was the first time they displayed the barrage in front of the home crowd. The Colonels made 14 in the Southland Conference Tournament twice in Katy, Texas  – against Central Arkansas in 2011 and versus Oral Roberts in '14.
 
Morrison led the outside assault as she drained 5 of 9 from downtown. LiAnn McCarthy was 4 of 7 from long range and scored 16 points, Hope Pawlowski (12 points) and Tia Charles knocked home two each and Airi Hamilton added one.
 
Nicholls connected on eight long balls in the first half to build a 36-30 lead. The Colonels shot a blistering 60 percent from the field in the first quarter to score 22 points, but the Lady Demons used a quick 11-0 run to briefly take the lead midway through the second. McCarthy and Morrison connected on 3s to answer and Lilly added a bucket inside as Nicholls closed the half on an 8-0 run.
 
The third quarter was the same as the second as the teams traded runs. After Morrison's 3 at the 6:02 mark put Nicholls up 41-34, the visitors used an 11-3 spurt to gain the upper hand. With 1:45 to go in the quarter, Janelle Perez broke free for a layup to give NSU a 45-44 lead. Perez led Northwestern State with 15 points on 6 of 16 from the field.
 
Before the end of the period, Cassidy Barrios found McCarthy for another 3, and Pawlowski ended the quarter with a buzzer-beater just inside the 3-point line for a 49-45 advantage.
 
In the fourth, the Colonels stretched the lead to 13 with 4:31 left to play as Morrison hit a 3-pointer to make the score 63-50. The Lady Demons scored the next seven points, but never came any closer as Nicholls made 7 of 8 at the line in the final minute.
 
Nicholls shot 40.7 percent for the game and had 17 assists on 24 field goals, led by five from Barrios. The Colonels took care of the ball all game, finishing with a season-low nine turnovers. Marina Lilly led the team with 11 rebounds and was a point shy of her fifth double-double.
 
With the win, head coach DoBee Plaisance is now just one victory away from matching the all-time record, held by Hall of Fame Coach Ben Abadie who had 89 in his tenure.