THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team built a three-point lead with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, but Abilene Christian forced overtime with a 3-pointer and went on to hand the Colonels a 95-84 setback Saturday afternoon in Stopher Gymnasium. 
 
In a game that was back-and-forth down the stretch, Nicholls (3-8, 0-2 SLC) had the upper hand when Tykeria Williams made a driving layup for a 76-75 lead in the final minute. After the Colonels picked up a stop, Williams calmly hit a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining. But Breanna Wright broke free for an open 3-ball to tie the game, and Nicholls misfired on a late jumper by Loan-Anh Johnson as time expired. 
 
For the extra period, ACU (9-1, 2-0 SLC) scored the first five points and although Nicholls trimmed the deficit to one, the Colonels never regained the lead. 
 
Both teams shot around 50 percent for the game and over 70 percent from the free throw line, but the Wildcats sank 16 3-pointers at a 40 percent clip. Nicholls made just 3 of 13 from behind the arc, however, made up for it with 50 points in the paint.
 
Williams led Nicholls with a season-high 21 points and accounted for all three of the Colonels' 3-pointers. She added six assists and five steals but also had eight turnovers. Airi Hamilton scored 17 and played all 45 minutes, and Chrystal Ezechukwu came off the bench for 17 as well. Five Colonels scored in double figures with Johnson and Lauryn Bowie finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 
 
Dominique Golightly fronted the ACU offense with a game-high 25 points to go along with eight assists and six steals. Wright totaled 21 points and Makayla Mabry added 14. All three Wildcats made four 3-pointers.
 
Nicholls led 40-35 at the break thanks to a fast start. The Colonels grabbed a 17-7 lead following a pair of Ezechukwu free throws, and only trailed briefly midway through the second quarter.
 
The teams ended the third quarter at 56-56, setting up a dramatic fourth. ACU went up by five with five minutes remaining in regulation, but the Colonels scored the next six with two layups by Johnson and one from McKay. ACU answered with a pair of field goals and then took a 75-72 lead into the final minute before Williams put Nicholls ahead.
 
The loss was the first at home for Nicholls this season and just the second in the last 16 games. 
 
UP NEXT
Nicholls will play four of its next five on the road, starting with two games in Texas. The Colonels will play at UIW on Thursday, Jan. 2 before heading to Sam Houston for a Saturday matchup against the Bearkats.
 
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