THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team nailed 12 3-pointers and five players scored in double figures, highlighted by a team-high 20 points off the bench by
Tia Charles, to pick up a 74-54 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Monday night at Stopher Gym.
The win snapped a five-game skid for the Colonels (4-9) and evened their conference record to 1-1. The Ioss was the Islanders' sixth straight, dropping them to 4-9 and 0-2.
Charles gave Nicholls some much needed bench points, knocking down 6 of 7 3-pointers – a career best – and was 7 of 8 from the field. The starters had supplied around 90 percent of the scoring leading into the game, and Charles was responsible for the lone bench points in the win.
Tykeria Williams (14 points),
Taylor Morrison (12) and
Emani White (10) all had two 3-pointers each as Nicholls shot 12 of 27 for the game.
Cassidy Barrios also reached double figures with 13 points.
The first quarter was close throughout and Morrison gave Nicholls some momentum by drilling a 3 at the buzzer for a 22-20 lead. The Colonels then held the Islanders to eight points in the second as they headed into the intermission up 35-28. The defense for Nicholls picked up 14 steals for the game off of 21 turnovers.
The Colonels continued to roll in the third, leading 47-30 midway through on a 3-pointer by Charles. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi fought back to make it an 11-point game after three, but three triples by the Red and Gray in the opening minutes of the fourth proved to be too much to overcome.
Nicholls finished at 46 percent shooting and missed just one of 13 free throws. The Islanders, led by 10 points from Camesha Davis, shot 46 percent and had a slim 29-24 advantage on the boards.
Williams led the Colonels with four steals, while White and Morrison dished out four assists each. Nicholls had 16 assists on 25 made field goals.
The Colonels hit the road for their next three games, starting Saturday (Jan. 7) at Sam Houston State. Tipoff against the Bearkats is scheduled for 4 p.m.
