Colonels women extend winning streak to four with victory at MVSU

ITTA BENA, Miss. – A big first quarter and critical defensive plays down the stretch helped lift the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team to a 62-57 victory Saturday afternoon against Mississippi Valley State in the R.W. Harrison Complex.

The victory extends the Colonels’ winning streak to four games as Nicholls welcomes national powerhouse Baylor to Stopher Gymnasium Monday night for the Red and Gray’s final nonconference matchup at home. Tipoff against the No. 6 Lady Bears is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Nicholls (5-4) used a dominating first quarter, outscoring MVSU (0-8) 25-8 in the opening period, to grab the lead for good but the Devilettes made it interesting in the final quarter. The score stayed around a two-to-three possession game in the fourth before Valley made it a one-point game after knocking down a free throw with 28 seconds remaining.

Tykeria Williams answered with a free throw to push the lead to 59-57, and following a timeout, the Colonel defense forced a bad pass on the inbounds, and Cassidy Barrios came up with one of the Colonels’ 12 steals. She made a free throw for a three-point lead, and the defense delivered another big play to keep MVSU from getting a shot off. LaKendra Bassett, who had a game-high 19 points, dribbled to the lane and Williams poked the ball away. Airi Hamilton slide to the court to secure the turnover and got the ball right back to Williams.

Williams was fouled with just two seconds remaining and put the game away with two free throws.
Williams and Barrios led Nicholls in scoring with 14 points each. Marina Lilly had 12 points, with 10 coming from the charity stripe, and Hamilton added 11. The Colonels finished at 35 percent from the field and made only 3 of 16 from 3-point range. Williams accounted for all three of the buckets from long range, making 3 of 6.

Valley was led by Bassett and Kristy Parker with 19 points apiece.

UP NEXT
Nicholls welcomes No. 6 Baylor to Stopher Gymnasium Monday night (Dec. 18) for a nationally televised broadcast on Eleven Sports. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at NichollsTickets.com.