HATTIESBURG, MS – A third quarter surge was too much for the Nicholls State University women's basketball team to overcome as they were defeated 83-63 by Southern Miss in the first game of the 35th Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon.
 
The first two quarters were as even as a basketball game can be with both teams scoring 15 and 19 to be tied at 34 at the break.
 
The Lady Eagles went on a 13-0 run to start the second half and never looked back. USM led by as much as 17 in the third and held a 19-point advantage in the fourth.
 
The Red & Gray offense was spearheaded by junior guard Kyla Hamilton, who hit three 3-pointers to net a season-high 21 points. She also finished with a team-high seven rebounds and five assists.
 
Freshman forward Lexi Alexander stuffed the stat sheet while hitting eight of her 11 field goal attempts to finish the contest with 16 points, six boards, three blocks, and two assists.
 
Senior guard Traya Bruce and sophomore guard Amelia Sandie combined for 15 points, including three 3-pointers.
 
USM was led by the nation's eighth most prolific scorer this season Domonique Davis, who poured in 34 points on 13 made field goals. Davis also added 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals to her stat line.
 
Lauren Gross, Rose Warren, and Jacorriah Bracey also had solid performances for the Lady Eagles, finishing with 12, nine, and eight points, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels look to avenge their loss on Tuesday with a rematch against Mississippi Valley State tomorrow at 3 p.m.