Nicholls junior Barrios’ last-second free throws sink UNO, 62-61

THIBODAUX, La. — Nicholls State University junior Cassidy Barrios made three free throws with 0.8 seconds to give the Colonels a one-point lead and the Privateers were unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer as Nicholls escaped with a 62-61 victory Saturday afternoon in Lakefront Arena.

With the free throws, Barrios scored 20 of her game-high 27 points after the break to help the Red and Gray erase a 31-15 halftime deficit. The Colonels doubled their first-half point total in the third by outscoring UNO in the period, 33-13. The 33 points was a season-high for Nicholls, surpassing a 29-point quarter in the win against SUNO.

The Colonels held a 59-58 lead in the fourth after Barrios scored inside at the 2:40 mark, but both teams would not score again until the final seconds. With the clock winding down, UNO’s Randi Brown found Kayla Mundy open at the top of the key and she nailed a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining for a two-point lead.

After two timeouts and advancing the ball, Tia Charles inbounded the ball to Barrios, who quickly put up a 3-pointer and was fouled by Mariah Wright. With 0.3 seconds on the clock, Barrios calmly knocked down all three for a one-point lead. UNO called timeout and inbounded it at midcourt but the horn sounded before a shot was taken.

The win put Nicholls at 9-12 on the season and 4-6 in the Southland. All four of the league wins have been on the road, where the Colonels have a 6-5 record on the season. With the loss, UNO fell to 11-12 overall and 7-5 in the SLC while having its three-game home winning streak in the series snapped.

Barrios recorded her 10th double-double of the season, adding a game-high 17 rebounds. She was 0-for-9 in the first half before catching fire in the second, going 6-of-7 which included three 3-pointers. Tykeria Williams finished with 13 points and Bryanna Washington had a big game off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes of play.

Despite shooting 56 percent from the field after the break, the Colonels finished at 35 percent for the game after a dreadful start. Nicholls made just five field goals in the first twenty minutes and had 12 turnovers. But the second half was a different story.

It didn’t take long for the Colonels to climb back in it after the intermission, using an 8-0 run in the first three minutes of the quarter. After UNO went up, 37-25, Charles sparked a 10-0 spurt with her only five points of the game. Despite the surge, the Privateers did not give up the lead until Airi Hamilton scored on a layup for a 40-39 advantage.

Nicholls grabbed its largest lead early in the fourth at 51-46 on Barrios’ third 3-ball of the half. But UNO answered with an 8-0 run and led until Barrios made her final field goal of the night with less than three minutes remaining.

The Colonels finished with a 46-37 edge in rebounding and added 13 steals. Williams, Charles, and Barrios each had four steals and four assists.

UNO was led by a double-double from Shania Woods with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Privateers finished the game at 41 percent from the field and were just 2 of 12 from behind the arc.

UP NEXT

Nicholls is back at home for its next two, hosting Abilene Christian (Feb. 7) and HBU (Feb. 10). For tickets, visit NichollsTickets.com or call the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office at 985-448-4790.

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