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THIBODAUX, La. – Following two tough losses on the road, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team returns home to Stopher Gym on Saturday to take on the league's hottest team in Stephen F. Austin, with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Nicholls (8-15, 6-7 SLC) is coming off a 66-62 loss at rival Northwestern State on Wednesday. The Colonels held a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but were unable to hang on to pick up the season sweep against the Lady Demons. SFA (14-10, 8-5 SLC) used an enormous comeback to capture its seventh consecutive win as the Ladyjacks erased a 16-point deficit in the second half to defeat Lamar Thursday night, 79-77.
 
The Colonels shot .381 from the field in the loss at Northwestern State, slightly below their .390 clip for the season. From long range, Nicholls connected on eight 3-pointers after making 14 in its previous win over NSU. The Colonels are fifth in the conference in 3-point percentage at .330, while SFA is third in 3-point percentage defense (.298)

On the season, LiAnn McCarthy continues to head the offense at 13.5 points per game. In league play, she ranks in the top 10 in scoring at 17.1 points and she is closing in on becoming the 14th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points as she enters Saturday's matchup with 973 points. 

SFA has completely turned its season around after starting conference with a 1-5 record. The Ladyjacks have also been winning in a convincing fashion as four of their seven victories during the streak have come by double figures.

SFA is led by Taylor Ross who is averaging 16.0 points on 47 percent shooting, 3.7 assists and has 50 steals. Ross had a solid outing in last season's meeting, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals as SFA won 68-59.

The Ladyjacks have had a significant advantage in the all-time series with a 41-6 record, but the Colonels held their own as of late, winning four of the last seven. Nicholls had won two in a row over SFA before last season's setback.