ESPN3   |   LIVE STATS
 
THIBODAUX, La. – Riding a three-game winning streak, with two wins coming at home, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team hits the road for its next two contests, starting Wednesday at Sam Houston State.
 
Tipoff against the Bearkats is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Following the matchup at Sam Houston State, Nicholls heads north to take on Central Arkansas. Both games will air on ESPN3.
 
The three-game win streak has resulted in Nicholls (11-12) evening its conference record at 6-6. The Colonels had not won a conference game at home before cruising past Abilene Christian and HBU by a combined 39 points.
 
Junior guard Cassidy Barrios has been the focal point of the offense, earning Southland Conference Player of the Week for the third after averaging 23.5 points in the two home wins. Already achieving a career milestone this season with 1,000 career points, Barrios swatted away four shots against HBU, and one more would break Alisha Allen's single-season mark of 33, set in 2010-11.
 
Joining Barrios, the Southland's fifth-leading scorer at 15.7 points per game, in double figures against HBU was seniors Tia Charles and Marina Lilly, and sophomore Tykeria Williams. But while the Colonel offense continued to play well, it's been the defense that has carried the Red and Gray during the win streak.
 
Nicholls has allowed 61, 60 and 45 points during the recent stretch and only one team has shot higher than 40 percent. The squad also increased its steal average after recording 12.7 per contest.
 
Sam Houston State (4-18, 1-12 SLC) is looking to end a five-game losing skid. But the last two home contests, the Bearkats only fell by three points against McNeese and Abilene Christian.
 
Jennifer Oramas is the lone Bearkats averaging double figures at 10.3 points per game and is followed by Lydia Baxter (9.0), who carried the team in the last two games with a team-high 12 and 16 points.
 
For the latest news on Colonel women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter at @Nicholls_WBB.