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THIBODAUX, La. – With its seventh-straight postseason bid locked up, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team will turn its focus to improving its position as the Colonels wrap up the regular season against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, March 3 at the University Center. Tipoff in Hammond is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Nicholls (15-13, 10-7 SLC) has won seven of its last eight, including the previous three, and has plenty to play for in the regular season finale. A win would guarantee the Colonels the No. 4 seed and a single bye in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. It would also secure the program's fourth winning season in the last six years, and the 16 victories would be the fourth most in team history.
A loss to Southeastern Louisiana (8-20, 7-10 SLC) results in a No. 5-7 seed, depending on Saturday's outcomes around the league. The eight-team field is set, but only the top three seeds have been locked in.
Heading into the postseason, the Colonels have not only been winning but have been doing so in convincing fashion. Six of their last eight wins have been by double figures, which includes 21-, 24- and 32-point victories. Before their recent stretch, the Colonels had just three wins double-digit wins over Division I teams this season.
Defense and rebounding have been keys to the recent success. In the last three games, the Colonels are allowing 50.7 points per game on 34 percent from the field. Nicholls also has a 48.3 to 32.3 rebounding advantage, helped by 57 offensive rebounds.
Junior
Cassidy Barrios led Nicholls in the win over Northwestern State with 17 points and 11 rebounds for her league-best 14th double-double of the season. Barrios is averaging 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds, ranking third in the Southland in both categories. Sophomore
Tykeria Williams matched her career-high with five 3-pointers for 15 points, upping her scoring average to 13.0 points – good for eighth in the league. Seniors
Tia Charles (9.0 ppg) and
Marina Lilly (8.2) also reached double figures in their final game in Stopher Gym.
Southeastern Louisiana ends the season with two home games, with a comeback attempt in the first falling short against New Orleans on Wednesday. The Lady Lions battled back from a 24-point second half deficit to tie the game, but the Privateers escaped with a 74-71 win.
Taylin Underwood is one of the Southland's top scorers, averaging 18.3 points on the year. Underwood torched the Colonels for 22 points in the previous meeting in Thibodaux, leading SLU to a 66-57 victory. In addition to Underwood, Charliee Dugas has been on fire as of late, averaging 24.5 points over the last four games. In the loss to UNO, Dugas poured in a Southland season-high 38 points on 16 of 30 shooting.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will head to Katy, Texas next week for the Southland Conference Tournament. Conference tournament tickets are on sale now through the Nicholls Ticket Office. All tournament and sessions tickets can be purchased through the Nicholls Ticket Office for $70. This will include a ticket to every session of the tournament including men's and women's games. Individual session/game tickets can be purchased for $20 per session as well. All tickets sold through the Nicholls Ticket Office will be general admission seating in the Nicholls section or other GA sections in the arena. Please call the Nicholls Ticket Office at 985-448-4790, email at corey.neal@nicholls.edu, or visit http://nicholls.universitytickets.com/user_pages/category.asp?id=73 to purchase online.
