NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team led for the majority of the game Wednesday night at Northwestern State, including an 11-point lead late in the third quarter, but the Colonels could not come up with plays down the stretch as they fell 66-62 to the Lady Demons at the Prather Center.
 
The loss put Nicholls under .500 in league play for the first time since the early going as they dropped to 6-7 and 8-15. The Colonels fell behind Houston Baptist and Lamar in the standings and are currently seventh out of the eligible teams. The top eight teams make the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas, where Nicholls is aiming to clinch a spot for the fifth consecutive time.
 
The Colonels shot 38 percent from the field, led by 15 points from LiAnn McCarthy and Hope Pawlowski, and connected on just 6-of-11 from the free throw line. Northwestern State also struggled from the field at 37 percent, but the Lady Demons made 12-of-14 at the line, fueled by 9-of-10 in the final four minutes.
 
Taylor Morrison also scored in double figures for the Colonels, and her 3-pointer at the 3:15 mark in the third gave Nicholls a 47-36 lead. The Lady Demons closed out the period with the next nine points, and eventually took the lead early in the fourth after a 13-0 run put them up 49-47.
 
The Colonels tied the game twice and grabbed a 56-55 lead with five minutes remaining after Pawlowski knocked down a 3-ball. Pawlowski had a great game from the field, making 6-of-9 and all three of her attempts from behind the arc.
 
NSU went back up after a pair of free throws by Beatrice Attura, who had 14 points, and she was then the beneficiary of a steal on the next possession as she made a fast break layup. Down three with a minute to go, McCarthy hit two free throws to pull Nicholls within 60-59; however, NSU's Janelle Perez missed a runner and despite being the smallest player on the court at 5-foot-2, came away with the rebound.
 
Perez, who had a game-high 18 points on 5-of-21 shooting, knocked down four free throws in the next two possessions before Cassidy Barrios kept Nicholls' hopes alive at 64-62 with a basket-and-one with 2 seconds to go. Nicholls immediately fouled, but Attura sank two at the line to put the game away.
 
The Colonels were outrebounded by nine, despite a 12-rebound, 9-point effort from Marina Lilly. Nicholls also had just eight turnovers in the loss, marking the seventh time in the last eight games that they've recorded less than 15.
 
The Colonels return to action on Saturday at Stopher Gym as they host Stephen F. Austin. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.