THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to bounce back from a midweek loss as the Colonels continue their five-game road swing with a contest against rival Southeastern Louisiana Saturday, Feb.2 in the University Center. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN3.
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In the loss at first-place Lamar, senior guard Cassidy Barrios scored 21 points to place herself nine away from breaking the program's all-time scoring record of 1,750 points. Realia Davis, who is also the lone Colonel ahead of Barrios in rebounds, set the career points mark more than 30 years ago. Barrios ranks 18th in the NCAA at 20.5 points per game this season and has scored in double figures in 37 consecutive games.
For the second straight game, Barrios won't be the only high-profile offensive threat on display as Southeastern Louisiana (8-11, 3-5 SLC) features the Southland's No.3 scorer, Celica Sterling. A native of Baton Rouge and transfer from BRCC, Sterling has scored 20 or more points four times in conference play, including 24 in a win over HBU. But that was the last victory for SLU as it has dropped the last two against Northwestern State and Sam Houston State.
Nicholls (11-8, 5-3 SLC) will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since starting the season 0-4. The streak goes even further back in league play when the Colonels suffered losses to Lamar and the Lady Lions last year to cap a four-game skid. After the setback, the Colonels went on a terror by winning eight of their final nine regular season games, setting up their championship run in the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Colonels were able to avenge the loss to SLU with a 79-64 victory in Hammond to close out the 2018 conference schedule. Barrios scored 22 points in the win and matched her career bests by going 14 of 18 at the free throw line. The Raceland native ranks seventh in the NCAA in free throws made (107) and 14th in percentage (89.2) this season, and is just six away from becoming only the sixth player in Southland history to make 500 for their career.
At Lamar on Wednesday, Nicholls was nearly perfect at the line, shooting 23 of 24. Tykeria Williams also scored 21 points and has upped her season scoring average to double figures at 10.3 ppg. In the last two outings, Williams has set season-highs as she scored 19 in the 30-point win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
SLU leads the all-time series, 58-23, but Nicholls has won four of the last five matchups. The Colonels have just nine wins in Hammond all-time, with five coming in head coach DoBee Plaisance's 10 seasons.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will play game No. 3 of its five-game road stretch with another nearby rival, New Orleans. Tipoff in Lakefront Arena Saturday, Feb. 9 is scheduled for 2 p.m.
TICKET INFO
Get season or single-game tickets now by calling 985-448-4790 or visiting nichollstickets.com. For the latest news on Nicholls women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_WBB.
