LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Nicholls State University women's basketball team saw its season come to a close with a 77-65 loss to No. 3 Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon inside the Legacy Center.
Nicholls finishes head coach
Justin Payne's second season with a 17-14 overall record. The 17 wins are the most for the program since 2018-19, which was Payne's last season as an assistant for the Colonels. Paired with last year's opening-round win, Nicholls also claimed a postseason victory in consecutive years and tournament appearances for the first time in school history.
The Red & Gray offense was solid throughout as they had 15 assists on 24 made field goals made two more field goals than the Ladyjacks. However, the difference came behind the arc and at the charity stripe as SFA hit nine triples while connecting on 24 of 28 foul shots.
The Ladyjacks began the second half with a pair of triples to go up 46-30. The Colonels responded by piecing together an 8-3 run as
Emani Burks scored back-to-back buckets followed by a layup and a pair of free throws by
Violette Skipworth. The Colonels kept the momentum rolling and following a pair of free throws, Nicholls was down 59-52 heading into the final frame.
Jesslynn Jalomo began the final stanza with a triple to get the Colonels within four before SFA went back up 10 after hitting four free throws and a layup. The Red & Gray would get within four one last time with 6:01 to go. However, SFA converted eight foul shots and two second chance shots to finish the game on a 12-4 run.
Senior
Deonna Brister scored a game-high 17 points and made three three-pointers after the break to help Nicholls trim a 16-point second-half deficit down to four. Classmate
Daelyn Craig added a career-high 13 points on 5 of 6 from the field and fellow senior
Elli Garnett finished with 12 points.
For SFA, Harmanie Dominguez led the squad with 17 points on four made triples followed by Faith Blackstone (16), Trinity Moore (14), and Key Roseby (12). The Ladyjacks will play Lamar in the semifinal round on Wednesday, March 12 at 1 pm.
