CONWAY, Ark. – Facing the league's toughest defense, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team had a one-point lead over Central Arkansas after three quarters, but the Sugar Bears held the Colonels to four points in the final period as Nicholls fell, 56-51, on Wednesday night at the Farris Center.
 
The Colonels (9-18, 7-10 SLC) trailed 20-12 after the first, but responded by erupting for 22 points in the second to take a 44-43 into the break. Nicholls fell behind by as much as 12 in the first half, but ended the quarter with an 18-5 run.
 
Both squads scored 13 points in the third before the defenses locked down as neither team scored in the first five minutes of the final quarter. UCA (25-3, 15-2 SLC) took the lead on a layup by Brianna Mullins, who led the Sugar Bears with a game-high 18 points; however, Hope Pawlowski gave Nicholls back the lead with a pair of free throws. Pawlowski was one of four Colonels to score in double figures and added six steals.
 
Mullins then came through with jumper at the 3:19 mark to put UCA back on top, and the Sugars Bears never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.
 
Back-to-back layups by the home team gave them a 54-49 lead with two minutes to go, and Pawlowski scored inside on the next possession to make it a three-point game. Pawlowski then came up with a steal with less than 30 seconds remaining, but LiAnn McCarthy misfired on a 3-pointer to tie the game. Marina Lilly was able to corral the offensive rebound but missed the putback, and UCA added a layup before the buzzer to make the final.
 
Lilly notched her sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Tia Charles added 11 points, while Pawlowski and McCarthy scored 10 each.
 
The Colonels shot 35.5 percent from the field after making just 1-of-9 in the fourth. UCA entered the game ranked eighth in the NCAA at 51.0 points allowed per game and was 24th in the country in field goal percentage defense. On offense, the Sugar Bears finished at 41.1 percent and held a 40-35 advantage on the boards.
 
Nicholls will wrap up the regular season on Saturday against rival Southeastern Louisiana. Before the game, the Colonels will recognize their two seniors, McCarthy and Jovana Mandic. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 1 p.m.