HOUSTON - Sh'Diamond McKnight scored 15 points,
Jasmine Matthews added 12 and the Nicholls State University women's basketball team held HCU to 31 percent from the field as the Colonels cruised to a 59-43 victory on Thursday night inside Sharp Gymnasium.
Nicholls (12-11, 8-8 SLC) led by as much as 25 in the fourth quarter before HCU (6-17, 4-12 SLC) scored 13 points in the final five minutes. The win gave the Colonels their second straight season sweep of a league opponent as well as their sixth consecutive win over the Huskies.
McKnight came off the bench to put up 15 or more points for the third straight game, shooting 5 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Matthews also did not start but shot 6 of 10 in 15 minutes of action.
Emani Burks led the team with eight rebounds while adding seven points and three steals.
HCU scored the game's first points but it would be the only lead of the night.
Marie Kenembeni answered with a triple to put Nicholls on top and after the score was tied at 9-9 midway through the period, the Colonels closed it out with a 7-0 run.
In the second quarter, Matthews scored inside for the first double-digit lead at 24-14. Then in the final 10 seconds,
Tanita Swift had a steal and a layup but the Huskies canned a three-ball before the buzzer to trim the deficit to 30-19.
For the third, Nicholls held HCU to 1 of 12 from the field and allowed just five points as they extended their lead to 45-24. The Colonels made three triples, including two by McKnight, to start the period with a 15-0 run. HCU scored their first points at the 2:10 mark.
For the final stanza, Matthews scored twice inside early to push the advantage to 25. But HCU shot 54 percent in the quarter to get the margin under 20 before the final horn. Madison Hurta was the lone Husky in double figures with 13 points.
Despite the late scoring run by HCU, it marked the second straight game Nicholls allowed fewer than 45 points. Along forcing 22 turnovers, the Colonel defense reached double figures in steals (12) for 13th time this season.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will stay on the road with a Saturday matchup against UIW. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
