THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will look to build off its Southland Conference opening win last weekend, hosting rivals Northwestern State (Thursday) and Southeastern (Saturday) at Stopher Gymnasium. 

Thursday's game will tipoff at 5 p.m. with Saturday's contest scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday's matchup against the Lady Lions will be streamed on ESPN+. 

Nicholls (3-9, 1-0 SLC) started 2022 on a high note last Saturday by defeating New Orleans on the road, 69-68, behind a last-second putback by Chelsea Cain. Cain scored the final 14 points for the Colonels as she matched her career high of 29 points. She was honored by being named Southland Player of the Week, LSWA Player of the Week, and her late bucket was the No. 5 play in the NCAA this week. 

Cain and Chyna Allen both helped the Colonels to a fast start against the Privateers, scoring 11 and 12 points, respectively, in the first half. Nicholls slowed in the third quarter but was able to recovery in the final period, going on to snap its seven-game losing streak.

Cain enters the matchups as the Southland's second leading scorer at 16.1 points per game. Allen, who scored 16 at UNO, ranks fourth in the SLC at 13.8 ppg. Bryanna Washington rounds out the leading scorers for the Colonels at 10.8.

Northwestern State (7-5, 0-1 SLC) is coming off a blowout loss to Southeastern, falling 90-56. NSU scored just four points in the second quarter to trail 45-18 at the half. 

The Lady Demons also have a trio of scorers averaging double figures, with Monette Bolden and Candice Parramore tying for fifth in the league at 12.7 points per game. Jiselle Woodson is third on the team at 10.3 points.

Nicholls has won seven of the last eight meetings against NSU, including the last three. The Colonels had a massive comeback in the last contest, outscoring the Lady Demons 18-2 in the final minutes of the game to win 72-65 in Natchitoches.

Southeastern (5-6, 1-0 SLC) will take on New Orleans Thursday before heading to Thibodaux. The Lady Lions' decisive win against Northwestern State was fueled by a 65-percent shooting effort from the field.

SLU is led on offense by Hailey Giaratano at 9.4 points per game. Although the Lady Lions do not have anyone average double figures, they feature eight players averaging at least five points. 

Nicholls and SLU split the season series last year, but the Colonels have won nine of 11 games. Nicholls took the first matchup, 76-63, at home to extend its winning streak to six in the series before SLU snapped it with an 82-63 victory in Hammond. 

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