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THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will play the first game on the brand new Broussard Court, as the Colonels take on Southeastern Louisiana for 'Stuff Stopher' Saturday at 4 p.m. in Stopher Gymnasium.
ESPN3 will carry the game, with Sean Kelley and Victor Howell making the call. All ESPN3 games are available via WatchESPN.com and the ESPN apps.
A new playing surface and a raucous crowd may be what the Colonels need to turn around their home misfortunes. Although Nicholls has eight wins on the season (8-11, 3-5 SLC), only two have been in Stopher and the Colonels are 0-3 in conference – with all three losses coming against the league's top three teams.
Nicholls has dropped the last three games, including a 76-61 loss to Lamar on
Wednesday. The setback put the Colonels at an uncharacteristic 2-5 on its home court, where Nicholls has had just one losing campaign since 2012.
The Colonels shot 47 percent in the loss to the Cardinals, but they matched their season-high in turnovers with 25. The miscues were the deciding factor in the loss as Lamar gave up the ball only 10 times. Despite the significant differential, Nicholls heads into the SLU game with a plus-1.7 turnover margin.
After reaching double figures in only three games in the nonconference, senior guard
Tia Charles has turned up her scoring in league play, tallying double digits in five of the eight games. In two of the last three games, Charles has hit 50 percent or better from the field, scoring 14 and 15 points in those contests. She is third on the team in scoring (9.0 ppg) and is tied with junior guard
Cassidy Barrios for the team lead in assists (3.2 apg).
Barrios finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Lamar, giving her a league-best ninth double-double. Along with leading the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game, Barrios ranks 28th in the NCAA in double-doubles and is 57th in rebounding (9.4).
Southeastern Louisiana is coming off a come-from-behind loss to Sam Houston State Wednesday, as the Bearkats outscored SLU in the fourth, 17-8, for a 57-52 victory. Taylin Underwood, the Southland's top 3-point shooter and second-leading scorer (19.3 ppg), had a rough going in the loss with a 2-for-23 night from the field.
SLU is 3-16 on the season and 2-6 in conference, winning against HBU and Northwestern State before the loss to Sam Houston. The Lady Lions lone win in the nonconference came in a two-point decision over Bethune-Cookman.
SLU holds a significant 57-22 advantage in the all-time series, but much like the
majority of the Colonels' lopsided series, a large chuck of the wins have been under
current head coach DoBee Plaisaince. Nicholls is 10-4 vs. SLU since 2012 and has the won last three matchups.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will have the midweek off before heading to New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 3. Tipoff against the Privateers is scheduled for 2 p.m.
