NEW ORLEANS - Chrystal Ezechukwu scored a career-high 25 points while
Airi Hamilton recorded her second straight double-double, but a 16-3 run by New Orleans to close out the first half was too much to overcome as the Nicholls State University women's basketball team fell 77-65 Saturday evening in Lakefront Arena.
The loss put Nicholls at 5-14 on the year and 2-8 in the Southland Conference, while also ending its five-game winning streak in the series against UNO. The Privateers improved to 10-8 and 6-3.
Ezechukwu's career day was highlighted by an outstanding shooting effort as she made 11 of 15 from the field. Her previous best was 23 points in the win over Southeastern Louisiana two weeks ago. Hamilton totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds to follow her 20-13 game in the victory at HBU Wednesday.
The duo helped Nicholls to an eight-point edge in the second quarter, 27-19. Ezechukwu had 11 first-half points and Hamilton's putback with 5:23 remaining gave the Colonels their largest lead. But New Orleans took control for the rest of the half as Nicholls got in foul trouble, resulting in the 16-3 run. A 3-pointer at the buzzer capped the decisive run and sent UNO into the locker room with a 35-30 lead.
New Orleans pushed the margin to 12 in the third quarter, and it was never closer than eight points the rest of the game.
Nicholls shot 36 percent for the game and made 12 of 19 at the free-throw line, which included a 5-for-11 second quarter. The Colonels struggled from behind the arc, hitting just 3 of 17.
UNO connected on 43 percent from the field and made 18 of 24 at the line. Rehema Franklin led all scorers with 23 points.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will be at home for its next three games, starting with its annual Stuff Stopher on Wednesday, Jan. 29 against McNeese. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Women's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_WBB) and Instagram (@Nicholls_WBB)
