THIBODAUX, La. — Senior Tia Charles scored 15 points and junior Cassidy Barrios collected her ninth double-double of the season, but it was not enough for the Nicholls State University women's basketball team as Lamar used a 10-0 run in the third quarter to give the Colonels their third-straight loss, 76-61, Wednesday night in Stopher Gym.
 
Nicholls (8-11, 3-5 SLC) held Lamar to 31 points in the first half and trailed by only a point, but the Cardinal defense caused 25 turnovers in the game, using the miscues to take control in the second half. Nicholls pieced together its own run in the third with nine straight points for a 39-36 advantage, but three turnovers over the next three minutes made way for layups for Lamar (12-6, 7-1 SLC) and a 10-0 run.
 
The Colonels received back-to-back 3-pointers from Charles and Barrios early in the fourth to trim the deficit to 51-49, but it would be as close as Nicholls would get the rest of the way.
 
With five minutes remaining in the game, Moe Kinard (28 points) hit one of her seven 3-pointers on the night for the visitors to give LU a double-digit lead. Kinard canned all four of her 3-point attempts in the quarter, finishing 7 of 11 from behind the arc.
 
A total of four Colonels reached double figures in scoring, including Barrios with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Tykeria Williams had 13 points and Marina Lilly finished with 10. Lilly did most of her damage in the opening half with eight points as Nicholls slowed the game down and looked inside to its 6-foot-3 center.
 
Nicholls shot just under 47 percent for the game, but the turnovers led to a 28-11 point differential. Lamar, which came into the game leading the NCAA in steals, tallied 19 in the victory. Kiandra Bowers led the Cardinals with six and added nine points and 10 rebounds, and DeA'ngela Mathis scored 19 points.
 
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Nicholls will host rival Southeastern Louisiana Saturday, Jan. 27 for its annual Stuff Stopher game. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the contest will be streamed live on ESPN3. The men's game against the Lions is scheduled for 6:30.