THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team will take on the UIW Cardinals to open the 2022 Southland Conference Tournament Thursday. Tipoff at the Merrell Center is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Nicholls (4-21) ended the season with a Senior Day 72-67 loss to rival New Orleans, which gave the Privateers the No. 7 seed and their first win in Thibodaux since 2008.

It dropped Nicholls to the No. 8 seed which will be their third appearance in the tournament as the No. 8. Overall, Nicholls is making its 14th all-time appearance. The last eighth-seeded Colonels pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history as they blew out No. 1 Central Arkansas, 79-59, in 2012.

Nicholls enters the postseason on an eight-game losing streak, with their last win coming on Feb. 3 at UIW. The Colonels and Cardinals split the season series with each team winning on the road.

Chyna Allen (13.3 ppg), an All-Southland Second Team selection, and Bryanna Washington (10.4) lead the Colonels in scoring. UIW's Jaaucklyn Moore (17.6) was also an all-league honoree after leading the Southland in scoring. In the two matchups with the Colonels, Moore scored 55 points with 35 coming in the overtime win in Thibodaux.