THIBODAUX, La. – Career scoring efforts by
Chelsea Cain and
Anna McKendree, paired with a season-high 31 made free throws, helped lift the Nicholls State University women's basketball team to an 89-82 victory over Sam Houston State Saturday in the teams' Southland Conference opener.
Dating back to last season, the Colonels have won eight consecutive Southland Conference games as they ended the regular season winning seven in a row. The win also ended a five-game losing streak for Nicholls (2-6, 1-0 SLC) and improved its home record to 2-1.
Coming off a career day on Wednesday, Cain set a new personal best with 29 points and 13 rebounds, fueled by a perfect 13-for-13 at the charity stripe. It marked her second straight double-double after tallying 26 and 12 against Alabama A&M. McKendree was big off the bench with a career-high 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting while adding five assists and three steals.
After trailing for most of the game, Sam Houston fought back to tie it at 80-80 with two minutes remaining. Nicholls went back up following two
Terris McKay free throws and after the Bearkats added one from the line,
Adrian Mann drained a 3-pointer with a minute to go for an 85-81 lead. The rest of the game was decided at the line as Nicholls made four more to put it away.
It was a franticly paced game as the teams combined for 58 fouls and 54 turnovers, and the Colonels were able to take advantage at the line by connecting on 81.6 percent. McKay was 7-for-8 at the stripe and totaled nine points with two steals.
After the teams were knotted at 15 through the first quarter, Nicholls ended the half on a 10-0 run to take a 42-34 lead into the break. Cain hit a pair at the line to start the run and Nicholls added three fastbreak layups – one by Cain and two by McKendree - to head into the intermission with the lead.
Nicholls had an 11-point lead in the third quarter before the Bearkats started to chip away at the deficit. The Kat eventually tied it up at 75-all but never regained the lead.
Mann's 3-pointer gave her nine points to go along with four steals.
Bryanna Washington and
Alex Bolozova, who started together for the first time, each added eight points.
Courtney Cleveland and Jolicia Williams each scored 20 for Sam Houston State.
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.
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