THIBODAUX, La. – In a game that featured 16 ties and 10 lead changes, the Nicholls State University women's basketball team fell 69-66 to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley inside Stopher Gym on Thursday night.
 
Nicholls got out to a great start offensively as they hit nine field goals including three triples and shot 60% from the field in the first quarter. After Sh'Diamond McKnight hit the first bucket of the second quarter the Colonels held their largest lead of the first half (8). Despite the Red & Gray hitting 14 of 28 field goals in the first 20 minutes, the Vaqueros made up ground by connecting on seven triples as the game was tied at 33 at the intermission.
 
The tempo of the game changed significantly in the second half as the Red & Gray shot 19-23 from the charity stripe in the third and fourth frames. Nicholls hit seven shots in the second half while the Vaqueros hit 13. The Colonels' offense struggled down the stretch as they hit one field goal, two free throws and committed five turnovers across the final 5:40 of the game.  
 
The Red &Gray had three double figure scorers as McKnight led the way with 17 points. Annyra Wilson was active as she scored 14 points while Jesslynn Jalomo hit two triples and five foul shots to finish with 11. Marie Kenembeni and Emani Burks were solid in the paint as they had nine points apiece and Tanita Swift rounded out the scoring with six points.
 
UTRGV also had a trio of double figure scorers as Jalayah Ingram led the way with 18 points followed by Charlotte O'Keefe who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Gianna Angiolet was 5-6 from long range as she scored 15 points.
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray return to action this weekend as they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi inside Stopher Gym on Saturday Feb. 7 at 1p.m.