THIBODAUX, La. – Junior forward Deonna Brister hit the go-ahead layup with 24.6 seconds remaining in the Nicholls State University women's basketball team's 60-57 victory over Northwestern State inside Stopher Gym on Thursday night.
 
After a Lady Demons' bucket put them up one, Nicholls executed an in-bounds play that gave Brister a free lane to the basket to put the Red & Gray up one.
 
The Colonels forced a turnover and Brister hit two free throws to extend the lead to three with two seconds left to put the game on ice. Brister struggled from the field (2-9) but finished with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Red & Gray offense was spearheaded by sophomore forward Lexi Alexander who finished with a game-high 20 points while hitting 8-12 field goals and four shots from the charity stripe. This is Alexander's third 20-point game of the season and her 15th time scoring in double figures.
 
Senior guard Kyla Hamilton stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists. Freshman guard Betzalys Delgado finished with seven points and three steals.
 
The game began with the teams trading punches in the first quarter. The Lady Demons started with a 10-2 run the Colonels responded with a 11-point scoring surge of their own to take the lead (13-10). After that the teams settled down and began to play stronger defense.
 
Both teams finished the first half with 12 made field goals, however Northwestern State led by one (32-31) at the intermission.
 
The third quarter was highlighted by poor shooting by both teams as they combined to shoot 6-20 from the field including the Colonels finishing the final 4:57 of the stanza scoreless.
 
Both teams found their footing in the final frame as the Colonels shot 7-13 (53.8%) from the floor and the Lady Demons shot 5-10 (50%) from the field. The Colonels exploded for 22 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Despite losing the rebound battle 37-25, Nicholls only gave up nine second chance points was able to win the turnover margin 20-11. The Colonels had 10 takeaways for the 10th time this season.
 
This victory snaps the Colonels' four game losing streak to the Lady Demons and is the first over Northwestern State since Feb. 22, 2021.
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray will continue its home stand and look for the season sweep against HCU on Saturday, Feb. 3.
 
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