Final Stats BATON ROUGE, La. – After a slow start by both teams offensively, LSU outscored the Nicholls State University women's basketball team 27-5 in the second quarter as the Tigers cruised to an 82-40 victory in both team's season opener Tuesday morning at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Nicholls (0-1) managed just 10 points in the first half but found some offense in the second, scoring 18 in the third quarter. LSU (1-0) still outscored the Colonels by three in the period and went on to double up Nicholls to improve to 15-0 all-time in the series.
Traya Bruce scored 10 points in her Colonel debut after connecting of 3 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range. Although Bruce finished at 50 percent from the field, the much bigger LSU squad made things difficult for Nicholls overall, holding the Colonels to 26 percent shooting. The Tigers also grabbed a 44-27 advantage in rebounds.
For the Tigers, Khayla Pointer recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Four others reached double figures, highlighted by a game-high 19 points from Hannah Gusters.
Both teams had trouble scoring in the first quarter as LSU led 12-5 after 10 minutes of action. Bruce hit a 3-pointer for the first Colonel bucket of the 2021-22 season.
While Nicholls scored five again in the second quarter, LSU put up 27 points thanks to 61 percent shooting. The Red and Gray made only 2 of 14 from the floor, but one was a 3-pointer by
Lauryn Bowie.
Nicholls was 5 of 15 from the field and played more aggressively in the third quarter, which resulted in seven made free throws.
Chyna Allen scored five of her six points in the third, helped by her lone 3-pointer of the day.
LSU saved its best shooting for the final 10 minutes, making 8 of 11 from the field which included two 3-pointers.
On defense, Bowie totaled three steals and added six points, while
Deonna Brister also tallied three steals. Allen and
Chelsea Cain (5 points) each had one block.
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Nicholls will make its Stopher Gym debut on Thursday evening, hosting Tougaloo College. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
