THIBODAUX, La. – Senior Chrystal Ezechukwu recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team used a strong second quarter to defeat ULM, 74-59, Tuesday night in Stopher Gymnasium.
The win snapped a three-game skid for the Colonels (3-6) and kept their undefeated record at home intact at 3-0. Nicholls has won the last three matchups against ULM (1-7), which has dropped its last four games.
Ezechukwu led a trio of Colonels in double figures, joined by Airi Hamilton (14 points) and Tykeria Williams (12). All nine players who saw the court for the Red and Gray cracked the scoring column.
ULM took a 15-13 lead after Whitney Goins canned a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first quarter, but it was all Nicholls in the second. Ezechukwu scored inside for a 20-18 advantage and the Colonels built a 33-25 lead at the break thanks to some timely 3-pointers.
Kacie Fountain hit one from downtown after the Colonels grabbed the lead, and Destiny Collins followed with two of her own. Nicholls was efficient from behind the arc all game, making 5 of 11.
Midway through the third, Hamilton pushed the lead to 46-34 with a basket-and-one.
The Colonels' largest lead of the night came on an Ezechukwu putback with three minutes remaining in the game.
Nicholls shot 42 percent from the field and continued to capitalize at the free throw line, hitting 27 of 35 (77.1 percent). The Colonels had a 37-31 edge on the boards, while Williams had over half the team's assists with six.
Linda van Schaik led ULM with 12 points. The Warhawks shot 38.9 percent and struggled from 3-point range at 4 of 18.
UP NEXT
The Colonels hit the road next week for their Southland Conference opener at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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For more information on Colonels Women's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_WBB) and Instagram (@Nicholls_WBB)
