HAMMOND, La. – Tia Charles scored 19 points, Cassidy Barrios added 17 and LiAnn McCarthy finished with 15, but the Nicholls State University women's basketball team shot just 34 percent from the field as the Colonels came up short against rival Southeastern Louisiana, 78-68, on Saturday afternoon at the University Center.
 
The loss dropped Nicholls to 8-14 on the year and 6-6 in league play. Southeastern snapped its seven-game losing streak, improving to 4-19 and 3-9.
 
Nicholls came out hot, making 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) shots in the first quarter including five 3-pointers, but it was all downhill from there. For the rest of the game, the Colonels made just 13-of-47 from the field as they surrendered the lead right before the break, 35-34, and was never able to regain the advantage.
 
The trio was the only players to reach double figures for the Red and Gray, but all three shot under 50 percent from the field. The Colonels hit 11 3-pointers in the loss, led by Charles who matched her career-high by knocking down 5-of-10 from behind the arc.
 
The Colonels led 25-22 after a high-scoring first, but neither team could get much going in the second. Southeastern outscored Nicholls 13-9 to go into the break with a one-point lead.
 
The momentum carried over into the second half for the Lady Lions as a jumper by Nanna Pool at the 6:02 gave SLU a 45-36 lead. Pool had a monster game for the home team as she had a game-high 23 points and 22 rebounds.
 
Southeastern extended its lead to double digits in the third and the Colonels never came closer than nine points the rest of the way.
 
The Colonels will stay on the road, taking on Northwestern State on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Tipoff against the Lady Demons is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.