THIBODAUX, La. - Behind its best defensive performance of the season, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team earned its second straight victory as the Colonels defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 54-49, Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.
With the win, Nicholls (8-16, 5-10 SLC) earned back-to-back wins for the first time in league play and more importantly, gained ground in the Southland Conference standings. Including SLU, the three teams currently holding the final three spots in the eight-team postseason all lost on Saturday.
The 49 points were a season low for the Colonel defense and the 31.5 percent field goal defense was the second lowest. Nicholls held SLU (10-13, 7-7 SLC) to single digits in scoring in the second and fourth quarters.
Sophomore
Loan-Anh Johnson was a rebound shy of a double-double, leading the offense with 16 points while
Tykeria Williams totaled 13. Williams had the lone 3-pointer for the Colonels, but they were able to make up the scoring at the free throw line by converting on 21 of 26.
Nicholls had a 10-point edge in the second quarter before SLU ended the half with a 5-0 run, making the score 30-25. The Lady Lions went up late in the third on a 3-pointer by Celica Sterling, who had a team-high 14 points, but Willaims' deep ball put the Colonels back on top.
In the fourth, Sterling hit another 3-pointer for a 46-43 SLU advantage with 6:30 to go. The Colonel defense locked in and went on to limit SLU to just one more field goal for the rest of the game.
Buckets by freshman
Chelsea Cain (8 points) and Johnson, along with four free throws, led to an 8-0 run with 2:25 on the clock. Sterling canned another 3-pointer to make it a two-point game, then Nicholls answered as Williams came up with a big steal and layup with over a minute remaining.
SLU misfired on a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch and Nicholls picked up its fifth-straight victory over the Lady Lions.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will host Northwestern State at Stopher Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonel Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_WBB).
