THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team opens its 2016-17 campaign in the Pacific Northwest with a matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Colonels lost just one starter from last season's squad and welcome back senior guard Emani White, who sat out last season with an injury. 


THE STARTING FIVE
1.  A Look Back          
Although the Colonels saw their streak of three straight winning seasons come to an end, Nicholls was able to extend its run of 10 or more victories to five. Hampered by injuries, Nicholls went 10-19 on the season and finished seventh in the Southland at 8-10. Nicholls also made its fifth consecutive appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament, which is a program record. 

2. DoBee Do            
Heading into her ninth season, all head coach DoBee Plaisance has done at Nicholls is set records. Plaisance's teams hold the records for most wins in a single season (19), consecutive winning seasons (3), consecutive tournament appearances (5) and longest winning streak (7). Last season, she became the program's all-time winningest coach and she needs just eight wins to reach 100.

3. Welcome Back
Senior guard Emani White returns to action after redshirting last season due to an injury. White was a First Team All-Southland selection as a sophomore in 2012-13 after leading the league in scoring at 19.6 points. That season, White also set the program record for points in a single season as she finished with 608. She played in four games in 2014-15 before missing two months with an injury, returning to play in a total of 19. 

4. Women of Steal
The Colonel defense was one of the nation's best when it came to steals as Nicholls ranked 15th in the NCAA with 10.7 steals per game. Leading the way for the Colonels was guard Hope Pawlowksi, who ranked 19th in the country with 2.85 swipes per game, and Cassidy Barrios was 11th in the SLC with 1.7.

5. 3-Point Streak                
Nicholls has made at least one 3-pointer in 220 consecutive games, dating back to the 2008-09 season. The last time the Colonels failed to make one from downtown was on Valentine's Day in 2009 at Southeastern Louisiana where Nicholls was 0-for-8 behind the arc


THE MATCHUP
Nicholls and Gonzaga will be meeting for the first time. The Colonels last went to the Pacific Northwest in 2011 to play in tournament hosted by Oregon, where they went 0-3 in contests against UC Irvine, Weber State and Oregon.   


ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
• Gonzaga was picked as the West Coast Conference preseason favorite for the fourth straight season.
• The Zags went 19-10 last season and made the second round of the WNIT.
• The Bulldogs have won 11 of the last 12 regular-season WCC titles.
• GU is headed by First Team All-WCC forward Jill Barta. Last season, Barta averaged 14.0 points and 5.8 rebounds. 
• Head coach Lisa Fortier is in her third season as head coach, posting a 45-22 record.


PRESEASON POLL
If the coaches' and SIDs' projection is correct, the Colonels will extend their postseason streak as they were voted to finish seventh in both preseason polls. Last season's regular season champion, Abilene Christian, was the heavy favorite 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will stay on the road for one more contest, taking on Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.