New Orleans -- The Nicholls State University women's basketball team was beaten 80-78 by UNO inside the Lakefront Arena on Thursday night.
 
After going down 10 points (66-56) with five minutes left in the fourth quarter the Colonels battled back and took a brief lead via a long-range jumper from Mikayla Etienne with 1:10 to go.
 
In the ensuing possession UNO guard DeArica Pryor hit a jumper to retake the lead 75-74. With 21 seconds to go, sophomore forward Lexi Alexander hit two foul shots to put the Red & Gray up one again 76-75. Next, Jayla Kimbrough hit a jumper from beyond the arc to put the Privateers up 78-76. UNO put the game on ice with its 23rd and 24th made free throw.
 
The first half saw both teams start the game strong offensively. The Colonels shot 13-31 (41.9%) from the field and hit four triples. While the Privateers shot 14-30 (46.7%) from the field and added two shots from long range. UNO led 36-31 at the intermission.
 
All five Colonel starters reached double figures. Freshman guard Britiya Curtis scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half. She made eight of 16 field goals including two from beyond the arc.
 
Senior guard Kyla Hamilton scored 16 points while shooting 70 percent (7-10) from the field and grabbing six rebounds. Junior forward Deonna Brister missed just one shot from the field (7-8) to finish with 15 points and six rebounds.
 
Etienne and Alexander hit five field goals and scored 14 points apiece. Alexander claimed her 11th career double-double as she snagged a game-high 11 boards.
 
The Colonels hit seven more field goals than the Privateers and hit 12 field goals in the final quarter. However, the difference came from the foul line as the Privateers shot 24-28 (85.7%) from the charity stripe compared to the Colonels who were 6-8 (75%).
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray begin the final three game home stand of the season with a showdown against McNeese on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m.