THIBODAUX, La. – Redshirt freshman Lauryn Bowie and senior Cassidy Barrios turned in double-doubles as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team outlasted Sam Houston State in an 84-81 victory Wednesday night in Stopher Gymnasium.
With the win, the Colonels (15-10, 9-4 SLC) are now tied for third in the Southland Conference, trailing frontrunners Stephen F. Austin and Lamar by three games in the loss column. Sam Houston dropped to 13-11 and 8-6.
Bowie finished with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, making 9 of 10 from the field, which included her first 3-pointer of the season. She also turned in a big effort on defense with three blocks and two steals and helped the Colonels edge the much-taller Bearkats in rebounding, 36-29.
Barrios tallied her 17th double-double of the season, totaling 17 points and 10 rebounds. Fifteen of her points came in the first half as she moved into the Southland Conference's top 10 of the league's all-time scoring list. Five Colonels finished in double figures, including Airi Hamilton (13 points) and Adrian Mann (12) and Tykeria Williams (12).
Even with all of the scoring, it was the Colonel defense that sealed the win. With Nicholls trailing 74-71 in the fourth quarter, the defense held the visitors to a single point in a six-minute stretch to grab a 79-74 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Still up by two possessions in the waning seconds, Mann drew a charge and it led to free throws by Hamilton.
Sam Houston would sink a 3-pointer with three seconds to go and after Mann hit two more at the line for a five-point lead, Jenniffer Oramas made a jumper for the Bearkats to make the final.
Nicholls shot 46 percent from the field, but it was a tale of two halves on offense. Playing in front of their home crowd in nearly a month, the Colonels scorched the nets in the opening 10 minutes by shooting 11 of 14 from the field for a 29-25 advantage. Sam Houston caught fire in the second quarter, finishing the half 7 of 15 from 3-point range for a 53-51 lead at the break.
The Colonels made only eight field goals following the intermission, but once again, free throw shooting was key for the Red and Gray. Nicholls made 16 of 19 in the second half and was 32 of 38 for the game.
Oramas led SHSU with 21 points, helped by five triples. Amber Leggett added 15 and Lydia Baxter had 14 off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will play at home again Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. against Central Arkansas. It will serve as their annual Pink Game, helping raise breast cancer awareness. The men's game will follow at 3:30.
TICKET INFO
Single-game tickets are available 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.
