WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Colonels sweep New Orleans with 72-48 victory

THIBODAUX, La. – Needing two wins to secure a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team came one step closer with a dominating 72-48 win over rival New Orleans Saturday evening in Stopher Gymnasium.

The win improved Nicholls’ record to 14-13 on the season, 9-7 in the Southland, and gave the Colonels a season sweep against the Privateers. UNO (14-14, 10-7 SLC) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end with the loss.

Nicholls came out firing and scored the game’s first 16 points, holding UNO scoreless for nearly eight minutes. The Privateers managed to cut it to six early in the second, but the Colonels pushed it back to double figures, and it stayed that way for the rest of the game.

Cassidy Barrios filled the stat sheet once again with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks. She shot 7 of 12 from the field as Nicholls finished at 43 percent. For the second straight game, the Colonels hammered the glass with a 45-30 rebounding advantage. Marina Lilly (9 points) had a big game inside, securing 13 boards to help Nicholls to a 22-4 margin in second-chance points.

Tykeria Williams nailed a 3-pointer to start the game ended the half with an old-fashioned three-point play for a 34-23 lead. She hit another triple to begin the third and finished the night with 19 points. Williams was 3 of 4 from behind the arc as Nicholls made 7 of 15 for the game.

The starters accounted for all but nine points, with Airi Hamilton adding eight and Tia Charles finishing with nine. Bryanna Washington led the reserves with five points and six rebounds.

The Colonels limited the Southland’s leading scorer, Randi Brown, to 5-of-16 shooting for 18 points. She was the lone Privateer in double figures but accounted for six of the UNO’s 19 turnovers.

As a team, the visitors shot 33 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3-point range and hit just 8 of 15 free throws. Nicholls finished with a solid outing at the line, making 13 of 18.

UP NEXT

Nicholls will honor its two seniors – Marina Lilly and Tia Charles – for Senior Night against Northwestern State on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Tipoff in Stopher Gym is scheduled for 6 p.m.