Southeastern wins at Nicholls for Southland opening win

THIBODAUX, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana University women’s basketball team gained its first conference win over Nicholls in a 66-56 victory Thursday evening at the David R. Stopher Gymnasium.

Southeastern (5-7) came out to a strong start, and held Nicholls (6-7) to only 12 points in the first quarter of the contest. The Lady Lions finished the first half outscoring the Colonels both quarters with a dominant 18-10 advantage in the second quarter.

Junior transfer Cheyanne Daniels had a breakout game in her conference debut leading all scorers with 20 points and eight rebounds. Daniels finished 1.00 percent from the field and 86.0 percent from the free-throw line to end the night with an outstanding performance. Earning her fourth game in double-digit scoring, the Colonels had no answer for Daniels contributing 41.1 percent of Southeastern’s points in the paint.

Nicholls went on an eleven point run early into the second quarter to cut into the deficit. The Colonels returned from halftime with a surge of energy and gained a 25-14 point advantage over Southeastern in the third quarter. Back-to-back three pointers from Mikayla Etienne, who shot 40.0 percent from beyond the arch, and Kyla Hamilton shifted the momentum for Nicholls to make it a close game going into the fourth quarter. Etienne and Lexi Alexander both ended the night with 16 points followed by Hamilton with 12.

SLU fought to regain its lead late in the fourth quarter after six lead changes. The Lady remained leveled, extending their lead off Nicholls’ turnovers and easy points at the free-throw line. Taylor Bell with 12 points alongside Jalencia Pierre with 11 earned double-digit scoring to join Daniels.

Allasia Washington and Daija Harvey tied with six points off the bench as a spark for the Lady Lions, shooting 50.0 percent from the three-point line. Southeastern received 17 points from bench production in its conference opener on the road against conference rival.

The Lady Lions have a quick turnaround and will return to action Saturday, traveling to New Orleans, for a 2 p.m. matchup against the Privateers Jan. 6.

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