THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team earned the first Southland Conference win of the season with a 65-61 victory over New Orleans inside Stopher Gym on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Red & Gray got out to a hot start, beginning the game on a 16-6 run. The surge was led by Emani Burks who hit three shots including two from long range to scored 12 of the Colonels 18 points in the opening stanza.
 
Nicholls momentum carried into the second quarter as Malaya Jones and Elli Garnett combined for eight points as the Colonels matched the first quarter scoring output to hold a 36-23 lead at the intermission.
 
Tanita Swift hit a jumper to give the Colonels a 48-28-point lead with 6:30 to go in the third quarter.  Nicholls hit five of their first eight field goal attempts of the second half, but the Privateers began to find their offensive rhythm.
 
Due to cold shooting from the Colonels, UNO was able to piece together a 31-8 run that lasted nearly 14 minutes of the second half. The Privateers took a 59-56 lead with 2:01 to go.
 
After the teams traded layups down the stretch, UNO led by three before Garnett splashed a triple to tie the game at 61. The Privateers turned the ball over and Britiya Curtis raced down the floor to hit a layup to put the Red & Gray on top. The Colonels iced the game with a pair of free throws and defensive stops.
 
The Colonels finished with four double figure scorers. Swift and Burks led the way with 12 points apiece. Garnett and Curtis added 11 and 10 points respectively. Additionally, Nicholls won the rebound margin by four as Swift and Deonna Brister tallied seven rebounds apiece while combining for seven assists.
 
UNO had a trio of double figure scorers. Nora Francois led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds followed by Gabbi Cartagena (14) and Jayla Kimbrough (11).
 
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The Red & Gray (8-3, 1-1 SLC) will open the New Year across state lines at East Texas A&M on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m.