LIVE STREAM ($)   |   LIVE STATS

NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Nicholls State University women's basketball team begins its 2017-18 Southland Conference schedule with two games on the road to close out the year, starting Thursday night at rival Northwestern State. Tipoff in Prather Coliseum is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Nicholls and Northwestern State each finished the nonconference season with identical 5-6 records. The Colonels' wins came via Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, and three non-Division I opponents. While the Colonels took care of business in their wins, three of the setbacks were against Power 5 programs – No. 6 Baylor, Iowa State, and LSU. Nicholls also opened the season at SMU and nearly took down the Mustangs.

The Lady Demons had a similar schedule, picking up four non-Division I wins, and their signature victory was on the road at ULM. NSU's losses were against No. 8 Texas, TCU, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma State.

For the Colonels, their nonconference success has been a result of their shooting percentage. In the five victories, Nicholls has shot 40 percent or better in all but one outing, with the lone exception being at Mississippi Valley. The Colonels' best showing from the field was in the win over Evangel where they finished at a staggering 61.7 percent. 

Defensively, the smaller lineup for Nicholls has once again led to being one of the best in the nation in steals. Through 11 games, the Colonels rank 23rd in the NCAA with 11.7 steals per game. They have double figures in steals in all but three games and have 10 or more in each of the five victories.

Junior guard Cassidy Barrios has anchored the team, statistically, leading the Red and Gray in points (14.5 ppg), rebounds (8.8), assists (35), steals (34) and blocks (13). Last season, Barrios averaged over 15 points and seven rebounds and was selected to the All-Southland Third Team. Tykeria Williams is also averaging double figures in scoring (12.9), and she and Barrios each earned SLC player of the week honors this season.

Northwestern State has dominated the all-time series, holding a 66-10 advantage. Even more impressive, the Lady Demons have dropped only two games at home against the Colonels. Nicholls won at Prather in 2012, 83-69, but has since lost the last five. In last year's matchup in Natchitoches, the Lady Demons held Nicholls without a field goal in the first quarter and led 19-2. The Colonels cut the deficit to 10 at the break but went on to fall by 17.

Northwestern State is led by its defense, which ranks nationally in several categories. NSU is ahead of Nicholls at 11th in the NCAA with 12.7 steals. The Lady Demons are also 26th in 3-point percentage (26.1) and 57th in points allowed (58.5 ppg). A big reason for the low scoring defense was due to NSU's 87-22 victory over Central Baptist in its final game before the holiday break.

Cheyenne Brown heads the Lady Demon offense with 13.5 points per game. She missed the first five games with an injury before returning to the lineup with a 21-point effort in a loss to Southern Miss. 

UP NEXT 

Following Thursday's game, the Colonels head to San Antonio to face UIW on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

For the latest news on Colonel women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_WBB.