THIBODAUX, La.  – Sophomore Cassidy Barrios recorded a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds and freshman Tykeria Williams scored a career-high 22 points, as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team picked up an 83-76 victory over Jackson State Tuesday night at Stopher Gym.
 
Nicholls (2-2) led by 10 points after the first quarter and despite strong second and fourth quarters by Jackson State (3-1), the Colonels went on to improve to 2-0 at home with the seven-point victory.
 
The starters dominated the game for the Red and Gray, accounting for all but eight points. Joining Barrios and Williams in double figures were Emani White (14) and Hope Pawlowski (12). While Pawlowski, who entered the game averaging 15 points, did not reach her average, she recorded seven on the Colonels' 18 steals. After forcing Saturday's opponent, ULM, into 28 turnovers, the Colonels caused 30 turnovers against Jackson State.
 
Nicholls shot just 34 percent in the victory, but the Colonels were nearly perfect from the free throw line. The team shot 32 free throws against JSU and misfired on only six. Most of the damage at the charity stripe was caused by Barrios and Williams, who combined to make 21-of-23. Barrios not only filled up the stat sheet in points, rebounds and free throws, but also added six assists, three steals and a block.
 
As good as the underclassmen were in the game, it was senior White who caught fire in the first quarter. White knocked down three 3-pointers to put the Colonels ahead 21-11 after 10 minutes of play.
 
JSU used a 12-for-13 quarter at the free throw line in the second to come within four points at the break (39-35). However, Nicholls took command in the third with a 13-2 run over a four-minute span, capped on a Williams 3 that made it 57-41.
 
In the fourth, Nicholls led by 16 with 90 seconds remaining before the Lady Tigers connected on three 3-pointers to close out the game.
 
Fourteen JSU players saw action in the game, led by 21 points from Khadijah Moore.
 
The Colonels will head to Jacksonville for their next two games, starting with host Jacksonville University on Friday at 1 p.m.