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THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to claim win No. 4 on the road in league play as the Colonels take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday night in the Dugan Wellness Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Nicholls (8-9, 3-3 SLC) has dropped both of its home Southland games, including a 21-point loss to Central Arkansas on Saturday, but the teams that left Thibodaux with victories have a combined 11-0 record in the league. On the road, the Colonels have a 3-1 mark, highlighted by a come-from-behind win over McNeese last week.

The Colonels are averaging just two more points per game on the road, and their field goal percentage is around 40 percent, but there have been three categories that have been key to their success away from Stopher Gym. The Nicholls defense is limiting opponents to 37 percent shooting on the road, which is four percent better than their overall field goal percentage defense. The Colonels have also fared better in rebounding at minus-1 versus minus-5 overall. And last, Nicholls has taken advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line, knocking down 31 more free throws at a 72.2 percent clip. The opposition is making just 56.5 percent.

With points at a premium Saturday against UCA, senior Tia Charles led the way with 14 points and is averaging 9.1 on the year. Defensively, Charles ranks third in the Southland with steals at 2.6 per game and needs just one steal to become the seventh player in program history to record 200 for their career. 

Cassidy Barrios and Tykeria Williams also reached double figures in scoring against the Sugar Bears with 11 points each. Barrios continues to be the leader for the Colonels in scoring (14.6 ppg), rebounds (9.6), assists (53), steals (48) and blocks (18), while Williams is second in scoring (13.3 ppg) and is one of the Southland's top 3-point shooters (2.5 per game/37.4 percent).

The Islanders feature one of the Southland's best-ever 3-point shooters in senior guard Brittany Mbamalu, who has knocked down 252 from long range. Mbamalu is the team's leading scorer at 12.0 points per game, helped by a 23-point effort in their win over Sam Houston State on Jan. 10.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9-7, 2-3 SLC) started Southland play with two losses, won the next two and fell in its last outing against New Orleans, 66-49. The Islanders' nonconference schedule was highlighted by a four-game winning streak.

Statistically, AMCC features a stingy defense, allowing 56.4 points per game and holding the opposition to 36.6 percent shooting. In the wins over Northwestern State and Sam Houston, the Islanders allowed 56 and 57 points, respectively. 

The all-time series is knotted at seven games apiece after the teams split the matchups last year. Nicholls won by 20 points in Thibodaux before the Islanders overcame a 17-point deficit to win, 65-60, on their home court.

UP NEXT

Nicholls will have the weekend off before returning home to host Lamar on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at NichollsTickets.com or by calling the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office at 985-448-4790.