NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Down only two points at the half against a red-hot Stephen F. Austin, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team was unable to keep pace with the Southland Conference leading Ladyjacks as the Colonels fell, 80-55, Saturday afternoon at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
 
The loss puts Nicholls at 5-11 overall and 2-3 in league play. SFA improves to 14-2 on the season, 5-0 in the SLC and extended its winning streak to 13 games.
 
Sophomore Cassidy Barrios led the Colonels with 14 points and five rebounds. Emani White and Tykeria Williams also scored in double figures with 10 points each.
 
A slow start for the Colonels, who trailed 16-5 after the first quarter, was quickly erased with a big second period. Nicholls outscored SFA 20-11 in the stanza and headed into the locker room down, 27-25. But the Ladyjacks opened the third with a 15-0 run and scored 33 points in the quarter as they went on to remain undefeated in conference.
 
The Colonels made good on 16 of 22 free throws for the game, but struggled from the field. Nicholls finished at 30 percent overall and hit 5 of 20 from 3-point range. Tia Charles hit two 3-pointers, accounting for all six of her points, including one right before the intermission
 
The Ladyjacks received big games from Stevi Parker and Taylor Ross, who combined to score 39 points. Parker was 9 of 12 from the field for 20 points and collected 10 rebounds, and Ross was 7 of 8 and added six assists.
 
Nicholls returns home for a three-game home stand, starting next Wednesday (Jan. 18) against Abilene Christian. Tipoff at Stopher Gym is scheduled for 6 p.m.