WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Colonels suffer tough road loss at UIW, 64-62

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining by UIW turned out to be the difference as the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team dropped a 64-62 decision Saturday afternoon in the McDermott Center.

Senior Marina Lilly had a team-high 14 points for the Colonels, but missed a layup with the game tied at 62. She was whistled for her fifth foul on the offensive rebound, and UIW’s Imani Robinson went on to knock down both free throws.

On the final possession, UIW fouled with 1.5 seconds left and following a timeout, Tia Charles’ 3-pointer fell short as the Cardinals won the fourth-straight game in the series.

Lilly recorded her first double-double of the year, adding 10 rebounds. Cassidy Barrios also had 10 boards to go along with nine points, and Charles finished with 11 points.

Nicholls hit 6 of 15 from behind the arc, getting three from Williams for all nine of her points. With the Colonels trailing by four with less than two minutes remaining, Barrios and Charles each hit one from downtown to make it a 62-62 game. But UIW hit its free throws down the stretch, making nine of its last 10 – capped on Robinson’s two for the victory.

Both teams struggled from the line overall. UIW made 15 of 29, while the Colonels connected on just 2 of 9. Trailing by one midway through the fourth, Nicholls missed four straight to keep UIW in front.

The Colonels started out fast and scored the game’s first 11 points. UIW chipped away at the deficit before a 7-0 run gave them a 17-15 advantage early in the second. The Cardinals went into the break with a 31-27 lead.

In the third, Nicholls went back on top with a 14-3 run. Williams drained two of her 3-pointers and Destiny Collins (8 points) scored inside to make it 41-35 with 3:42 on the clock. But for the rest of the quarter, Nicholls scored only one field goal as UIW led 46-43.

With the Colonels in foul trouble, sophomore Bree Wilson (7 points) helped spark a run in the fourth. She drained a 3-pointer to even the score and had a steal and layup to make it 51-50, UIW. Despite tying the game twice the rest of the way, Nicholls was never able to regain the lead.
UIW was led by Robinson with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Sydnee Wynn came off the bench for 13 points and 16 rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Colonels open their home Southland schedule Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Stephen F. Austin. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. For tickets, visiting NichollsTickets.com or call 985-448-4790.

For the latest news on Colonel women’s basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_WBB.