WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Williams ignites Colonels in 83-45 win over SUNO on Kids Day

THIBODAUX, La. – Sophomore Tykeria Williams scored 20 first-half points and went on to match her career-high as the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team cruised to an 83-45 win over SUNO Wednesday afternoon on Colonel Kids Day at Stopher Gym.

With nearly 1,000 elementary and middle school students in attendance, Nicholls (3-4) fed off the energy of the boisterous crowd and scored the game’s first 18 points. Williams sparked the showing with a 4-for-4 effort from behind the arc and the home team never looked back. Nicholls led 23-2 after the first quarter and a 29-12 advantage in the third gave Nicholls its largest lead of the day at 40 points.

The Colonels shot 51 percent from the field and connected on 8 of 19 from 3-point range. Williams’ game-high of 22 points came on 7 of 9 overall and 4 of 6 from downtown. A total of 11 Colonels scored in the victory, with Bryanna Washington finishing with a career-high 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting. Cassidy Barrios also reached double figures in scoring with 11 points and was a rebound shy from her fifth double-double of the year.

Nicholls had 16 steals, with five coming in the first five minutes of the contest. Barrios led the way with five and Tia Charles (9 points) had four. The duo had two each in the early going to help fuel the fast start. After Williams hit her third 3-pointer to make it 18-0, the Lady Knights finally cracked the scoring column with a bucket at the 2:56 mark.

The Colonels headed into the break with a 41-18 advantage. After pulling away with a dominating third quarter, Nicholls emptied its bench as they upped its home record to 2-1 on the season.

SUNO was held to 29 percent shooting and had 24 turnovers. The Lady Knights were led by Andriel Moss with a double-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds.

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Nicholls heads to Jackson State for a matchup against the Lady Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.