Southeastern closes 2017-18 with 79-64 loss to Nicholls

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana senior guard Taylin Underwood led four Lady Lions in double figures with 19 points in the final game of her collegiate career, but it was not enough as Nicholls pulled away in the second half for a 79-64 victory in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon in the University Center.

Southeastern finished the season 8-21 overall and 7-11 in Southland Conference play. Nicholls (16-13, 11-7 Southland) clinched the No. 4 seed in next week’s Southland Conference Tournament, outscoring SLU, 47-33, in the second half.

Underwood and Bre’ Warren, who missed all of 2017-18 with an injury, were honored in a special pregame Senior Day ceremony. Underwood finished her career fifth in school history with 1,571 points and her school career record 263 three-point field goals are the fifth-most in school history. The Livingston, Louisiana native also netted a league-high and single-season program record 92 three-point field goals in 2017-18 – the fifth-highest single-season total in Southland Conference history.

Underwood was joined in double figures by junior guard Jaclyn Scholvin (11 points), sophomore guard Charliee Dugas (11 points) and freshman forward Caitlyn Williams (10 points). Caitlyn Williams and Dugas led SLU with six rebounds apiece, while sophomore guard Tyler Morrison finished with a team-high three assists.

Nicholls was led by junior guard Cassidy Barrios, who finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Tia Charles added 22 points of her own, while senior center Marina Lilly gave the Colonels a trio in double figures with 13 points. Barrios also led the Colonels with four assists and four steals.

The Lady Lions led 19-17 after the opening quarter, though Nicholls took a 32-31 lead into halftime. A couple of free throws by Caitlyn Williams put Southeastern up, 43-39, with 5:55 left in the third quarter.

However, the Colonels ratcheted up the defense, holding SLU without a field goal for the final 7:38 of the third period. Nicholls closed the period on a 13-1 run and took a 52-44 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Southeastern got no closer than six in the fourth quarter. The Colonels stretched their lead to as many as 16 down the stretch to close out the victory.

Though Underwood’s production will be hard to replace, Southeastern head coach Ayla Guzzardo will not enter her second season with an empty cupboard. After the program took its first positive step in 2017-18, the Lady Lions will return nine of its top 10 scorers from this season and have already signed three talented freshman in the early signing period.

Nicholls 79 (16-13, 11-7 SLC)
Lilly 3-7 7-8 13, T. Williams 2-7 4-6 9, Charles 8-17 6-6 22, Hamilton 2-3 1-1 5, Barrios 4-10 14-18 22, Heineman 0-0 0-0 0, P. Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Collins 2-4 2-2 8, Washington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 34-41 79
Southeastern Louisiana 64 (8-21, 7-11 SLC)
C. Williams 3-6 4-4 10, Dugas 5-16 1-1 11, Underwood 5-16 4-6 19, Morrison 2-4 2-5 6, Brailey 1-2 0-0 3, K. Williams 2-5 0-0 4, Carrier 0-6 0-0 0, Scholvin 4-10 2-2 11. Totals 22-65 13-18 64.

End of 1st Quarter – SLU 19, NICH 17. Halftime – NICH 32, SLU 31. End of 3rd Quarter – NICH 52, SLU 44. 3-point goals – NICH 3-15 (Collins 2-2, T. Williams 1-5, Charles 0-4, Barrios 0-4), SLU 7-27 (Underwood 5-11, Scholvin 1-6, Brailey 1-2, Dugas 0-4, Carrier 0-3, Morrison 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – Brailey. Rebounds – NICH 43 (Barrios 14), SLU 34 (C. Williams, Dugas 6). Assists – NICH 11 (Barrios 4), SLU 8 (Morrison 3). Total Fouls – NICH 21, SLU 28. A – 816.