CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's basketball team defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 59-43 inside the American Bank Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
Nicholls (12-6, 5-4 SLC) forced the Islanders to shoot 32.1 percent from the field and connect on one triple. Additionally, the Colonels forced 24 turnovers including 13 steals and registered six blocks. In the final stanza, the Colonels matched their lockdown defense with efficient offense. The unit hit seven field goals including three from long range to score 21 points while allowing the Islanders to shoot 3-15 from the field.  
 
The Red & Gray offense was spearheaded by Deonna Brister who scored hit six field goals including three from beyond the arc to score 17 of her game-high 19 points in the second half. The contest's second leading scorer Elli Garnett finished with 13 points on four made field goals and matched Brister's game-high eight rebounds. Malaya Jones added seven points and Daelyn Craig had four points and four assists.
 
The Colonels defense forced the most turnovers in a SLC game this season was led by Britiya Curtis and Emani Burks who had three steals apiece. Brister and Violette Skipworth had two blocks apiece while Garnett and Craig had one.
 
Today's victory is the second consecutive in the series and the first win in Corpus Christi since 2016.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams started slow as heading into the Q1 media timeout (4:06) the Colonels were 1-7 from the field with three turnovers while the Islanders shot 3-13 and led 6-3.
• Colonels finish Q1 with three made field goals, three made free throws and seven turnovers and trailed 13-9.
• Malaya Jones began Q2 with back-to-back layups to tie the game at 13 and force an Islanders' timeout (8:34).
• Colonels piece together a 14-0 run that lasted over six minutes and exploded for 17 points in the frame.
• Despite going over six minutes without a point, the Islanders go on a mini run to end the quarter. Colonels led 26-23 at the intermission.
• Colonels hit five field goals but finish Q3 on a scoring drought the last four minutes of the frame.
• Islanders finished Q3 on an 8-0 run as the Colonels go scoreless for over five minutes. Colonels led 38-35 heading into the Q4.
• Colonels began Q4 on fire Brister hit two of her three triples in the final stanza.  
• Colonels shoot 53.8% from the field and close the game on a 17-4 run the final 7:32 of the game.

UP NEXT
The Red & Gray will head to Edinburg to take on new SLC foe UTRGV on Monday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m.