CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas  – Sophomore Cassidy Barrios scored 18 points and the Nicholls State University women's basketball team led Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by 17 in the first half, but the Colonels were unable to hang on as the Islanders handed Nicholls a 65-60 loss Saturday evening at the American Bank Center.
 
Despite the strong start which included a 15-4 lead after the first quarter, Nicholls (7-13, 4-5 SLC) shot just 35 percent for the game and matched its season-high of 20 turnovers.   Barrios made 5 of 9 from the field and added seven rebounds, while Hope Pawlowski had 12 points and five steals off the bench and Emani White scored 11 points.  But the trio combined for 14 of the Colonels' 20 turnovers.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (8-12, 4-5 SLC) also had 19 turnovers, but the Islanders connected on 15 of 25 in the second half to erased a 29-19 halftime deficit. Kassie Jones scored a game-high 21 points off the bench while Dalesia Booth finished with 13 points.
 
The Colonels' big first quarter was fueled by White's seven points and their matchup zone caused AMCC to make just 2 of 11 from the field.  The lead grew to 29-12 before the break, however, the Islander closed out the period on a 7-0 run.
 
Nicholls held off the Islanders in the third, clinching on to a 40-36 advantage, but the home team scored the first eight points of the fourth to grab its first lead. The Colonels cut it to one on two separate occasions before A&M-Corpus Christi pulled away for the win.
 
Nicholls will continue its road swing next week with games at Southeastern Louisiana (Feb. 1) and New Orleans (Feb. 4). The Colonels' next home game is their annual Stuff Stopher on Feb. 8 against Stephen F. Austin.
 
For the latest news on Colonel women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_WBB.