Final Stats SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Junior forward Deonna Brister scored 16 of her season-best 19 points in the second half to lead the Nicholls State University women's basketball team to a 65-59 victory over UIW inside the McDermott Center on Thursday night.

Brister hit seven field goals, including two from beyond the arc, and grabbed five rebounds and two steals. This is her sixth time reaching double figures this season.
 
The Colonels got off to a hot start as they hit nine of 15 field goals (60%) in the first quarter. In that quarter, freshman guard Britiya Curtis set the tone as she hit four field goals to score 10 of her 18 points. Her 18 points match her season-high she set in the Colonels' win over Tulane earlier this season.
 
Nicholls led 22-14 after 10 minutes of play and the second stanza was the opposite. The Colonels offense went cold as they only scored seven points, while the Cardinals hit six field goals and matched their 14 points from the first quarter. Despite the lack of offensive production, The Red & Gray led 29-28 at the intermission.
 
Nicholls started the third frame on a 9-2 run that was spearheaded by Brister who scored eight points in the quarter. Overall, the Colonels made seven field goals and led 48-40 going into the fourth.
 
In the final quarter, the teams shot identical from the field (4-10) and the free throw line (8-10) as the Colonels put the game on ice from the charity stripe.
 
Senior guard Kyla Hamilton impacted the game with 11 points including two triples. Additionally, Hamilton dished out a season-best seven assists, while junior forward Daelyn Craig finished with eight points and five boards.
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray continue the road swing at Texas A&M- Corpus Christi on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m.