THIBODAUX, La. – Coming off its first win in conference, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to put together a winning streak as the Colonels take on Northwestern State Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tipoff at Prather Coliseum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
It took a little longer than usual for the Colonels (4-11, 1-5 SLC) to notch their first Southland Conference victory. After three close losses, including one in overtime, Nicholls cracked the win column for the first time this year with a buzzer-beating victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
The 67-65 win over SLU snapped a five-game skid and ended head coach
DoBee Plaisance's longest drought to start league play since her second season. Already down two starters with preseason injuries, the Colonels had to take down the Lady Lions without another starter and just seven healthy players after
Lauryn Bowie missed the game with an injury suffered last Wednesday against Lamar.
Three players scored in double figures in the win and combined for 58 of the 67 points. Senior
Chrystal Ezechukwu had a game-high 23 points along with nine rebounds, while
Loan-Anh Johnson scored 21 on 10-of-12 shooting.
Tykeria Williams rounded out the leaders with 14 points and five steals.
Johnson was recognized for her stellar play by being named Southland Conference Player of the Week. She averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two games, shooting 77 percent from the field. The sophomore guard is the first Colonel to earn a weekly award this season.
Airi Hamilton scored only one basket against SLU, but it came on a putback as time expired for the victory. Hamilton was on the floor for all 40 minutes. It was the eighth time she went the distance this season, including playing all 45 minutes in the overtime game against Abilene Christian.
Hamilton is one of four Colonels averaging double figures in scoring, ranking second on the team at 10.9 points per game. Ezechukwu leads the team (12.3), followed by Williams (10.2) and Johnson (10.1).
Northwestern State (4-11, 1-5 SLC) posts the same record as the Colonels, with all four of its wins coming at home. The lone conference win came on Jan. 5 in a 69-60 outcome against HBU. NSU fell short in its previous two games against UIW and McNeese.
Senior guard Kira Bonner heads the Lady Demon offense at 13.9 points per game. In the win over HBU, Bonner torched the nets for 32 points and was 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
While the Colonels won't have history on their side as the Red and Gray are just 4-37 all-time in Prather Coliseum, Nicholls has won the last four overall meetings against the Lady Demons. And three of the road wins are under Coach Plaisance - 2012, '17 and '19.
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