HOUSTON, Texas - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team received a pair of 19-point efforts by
Lexi Alexander and
Deonna Brister, but a tough third quarter for the Colonels helped lift HCU to a 68-55 victory Saturday afternoon at Sharp Gymnasium.
The duo teamed up as Alexander found Brister for a layup to give Nicholls a 35-33 advantage early in the second half. But the Colonel offense went stagnant over the next five minutes and HCU (10-12, 5-6 SLC) put together an 18-0 run to put the game out of reach. Nicholls (4-17, 1-9 SLC) made it a nine-point deficit with four minutes remaining but never came any closer.
With the loss, Nicholls saw its losing skid extend to six games and now has lost five straight to the Huskies.
Alexander and Brister combined to shoot 15 of 30 from the field but the Colonels finished at 38.5 percent for the game. Nicholls made just 2 of 15 from the floor in the third quarter as HCU outscored the Colonels in the period, 23-7.
Five players scored for the Red and Gray, with
Kyla Hamilton chipping in with 11 points.
Kayla Keshmeshian came off the bench for four points and
Amelia Sandie scored two.
The Huskies shot 46 percent in the victory despite their own cold-shooting quarter, but theirs came in the second. After a 62 percent clip in the opening period resulted in a 24-17 advantage, Nicholls held HCU to 4 of 16 in the second. HCU still managed to lead at the half, 32-31.
N'Denasija Collins led all scorers with 20 points and Marilyn Nzoiwu collected a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will return home for the first time since Jan. 19 as they host New Orleans on Thursday (Feb. 9). Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
