RUSTON, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team's comeback effort fell short in its 53-51 loss to Louisiana Tech inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Monday afternoon.
 
After getting off to a slow start and only scoring four points in the first quarter, the Colonels responded by pouring in 23 in the second. The surge was spearheaded by freshman guard Jesslynn Jalomo who scored eight points off the bench. Despite hitting nine field goals in the frame, the Red & Gray trailed 34-27 at the break.
 
Nicholls threw the first punch after the intermission with an 11-0 run to take a 38-34 lead. The Colonels carried a two-point advantage into the final stanza. The Colonels committed three turnovers and missed three shots during the first half of the quarter and did not make a field goal until senior forward Deonna Brister hit a jumper to bring the Colonels within two (44-46) with 4:51 to go. The teams traded buckets and free throws down the stretch as the Lady Techsters held on for the two-point win.
 
The Red & Gray offense was led by sophomore forward Tanita Swift who had 15 points, four assists and six steals. Brister hit five of her six field goal attempts and a pair of free throws to finish with 12 points to go along with eight rebounds and two steals.