THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball 2020-21 season will have a different feel to it, but the goal remains the same – winning the Southland Conference. 
 
The Colonels were one of the hottest teams entering last season's Southland Tournament after reeling off seven straight wins, but any hopes of a second title in three years were put aside when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Fast forward to seven months later and the pandemic still looms, resulting in a later start than normal and a somewhat shortened schedule. On the court, DoBee Plaisance's squad will have an almost entirely different look with the addition of eight newcomers and three returning players who either missed the whole '19-20 season or most of it with an injury. 
 
Plaisance graduated three seniors last year – Airi Hamilton, Tykeria Williams, and Chrystal Ezechukwu – who accounted for 53 percent of the Colonels' scoring last year. With the loss of the trio and a plethora of new faces, Nicholls was projected to finish ninth in the Southland preseason poll. 
 
"Anytime any program loses a senior class, it's always about what you've done between now and that point you lost those seniors, what you've done with those underclassmen or how you prepared them," said Coach Plaisance, who is entering her 13^th season as head coach of the Colonels. "So, it's not necessarily about replacing what we had. It's just embellishing what we do have, and I'm very confident with what we have. I like our look, we're a fun bunch so I'm just excited to get started with them doing something other than practicing."

Loan-Anh Johnson is the top returning scorer at 10.9 points per game, followed closely Adrian Mann, who averaged 10.2 in nine games as a sophomore before receiving a medical redshirt. Johnson had a breakout sophomore campaign as she ranked fifth in the Southland in field goal percentage at 48.2 percent. 
 
Along with Mann, two key players returning from injury are redshirt juniors Bryanna Washington and Kinzie Heineman. Washington was a starter inside for the 2018-19 campaign and Heineman averaged nearly 20 minutes a game. Lauryn Bowie missed her freshman year in 2017-18 but played the last two seasons and averaged 5.6 points in '19-20. 
 
Two sophomores gained a wealth of experience in their rookie seasons last year, Terris McKay and Chelsea Cain. Both earned starts as true freshmen, with Cain averaging 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds while McKay contributed with 3.8 points and 1.5 steals. 
 
The eight newcomers consist of four transfers and four freshmen. Graduate transfer center Alex Bolozova comes to Thibodaux after playing at Maine, while guard/forward Jazmyn Womack started her career with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Coming from the junior college ranks are Jones College product Chyna Allen and South Georgia Tech's Anna McKendree. Both guards, Allen and McKendree led their teams to a combined 54-6 record last season. 
 
Bolozova (6-2) and freshman Kate Manley (6-4) give the Colonels a pair of post players over six-feet tall for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Manley averaged over two blocks per game last year as a senior at Roswell High in Georgia. 
 
Rounding out the roster are three freshmen guards – Madison Gill, Kyrstin Green, and Amelia Sandie. Gill was a four-year letterwinner at Ponchatoula and earned all-district as a senior. Green played one season at Zachary and garnered 4-5A All-District. 
 
"I just love our versatility and I love our depth," Plaisance said. "We've even put in a couple of new sets that we haven't done before, only because you it marries to our strengths. I think we're going to be versatile and we're going to be fun to watch."
 
Nicholls begins the season Wednesday, Nov. 25 against Tulane. Tipoff in The Devlin Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+. 
 
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are now available by visiting Nicholls Ticket Central or calling the ticket office at 985-448-4790. New this season, fans have the option to purchase the Geaux BIG RED ticket package which will cover all home basketball, football, and baseball games.
 
FOLLOW THE COLONELS
For the most up-to-date news on Colonel women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_WBB and on Instagram @Nicholls_WBB. 
 
Follow Nicholls Athletics on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribe to the official YouTube channel (Nicholls Athletics).