THIBODAUX, La. – Sophomore guard Britiya Curtis hit the game winning layup in the Nicholls State University women's basketball team's 55-53 victory over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the opening round of the 2025 Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Following a Deonna Brister layup that gave Nicholls (17-13, 10-11 SLC) a 48-40 lead with 5:00 to go in the fourth quarter UTRGV answered with a 10-2 spurt to tie the game at 50 with 1:10 to go. Next, Jesslynn Jalomo hit a triple before the Vaqueros answered by converting a three-point play to tie the contest at 53.
 
Head coach Justin Payne called timeout and drew up a play for Curtis who caught the ball at the left elbow and drove to the basket to put the Red & Gray up two with one second left. The Vaqueros shot at the buzzer fell short and the Colonels secured the 100th career victory for Payne.
 
Both teams were heavily affected by the oppositions stout defense in the first half as the teams combined for 15 made field goals and 22 turnovers across the first 20 minutes of action. However, in the second half the Colonels hit 13 field goals including six from beyond the arc while the Vaqueros only hit eight field goals but converted 10-11 foul shots to keep pace.
 
The Red & Gray offense was spearheaded by senior forward Deonna Brister who poured in 17 points. Elli Garnett recorded her third double-double of the season as she scored 13 points while hauling in a game high 12 rebounds. Jalomo finished with nine points with all of them coming from long range while Curtis finished with eight.
 
For UTRGV, Kade Hackerott led the way with 15 points followed by Tierra Trotter (13) and Charlotte O'Keefe finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray will play #3 Stephen F. Austin in the Quarterfinal round of the 2025 SLC Tournament on Tuesday March 11. Tipoff from the Legacy Center is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
 
Tickets are still available for the 2025 Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Basketball Championships presented by Explore Louisiana. All-session tickets are also still available including standard admission, reserved seats, and premium seats, as well as single-session tickets.
 
Women's first-round games will be played Monday, March 10, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Women's second-round games are Tuesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Semifinal games are scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, at a time to be determined. The women's championship game is Thursday, March 13, at a time to be determined.

The winners of the conference men's and women's tournaments will earn the Southland Conference's automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA tournaments. The NCAA Men's Final Four is April 4 and 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, while the NCAA Women's Final Four will be April 4 and 7 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa.