WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Colonels’ late run falls short vs. SFA

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Colonels’ late run falls short vs. SFA

THIBODAUX, La. – Trailing by 18 late in the third quarter, the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team exploded for a 19-4 run and made it a one-point game against Stephen F. Austin in the fourth, but the Ladyjacks never relinquished the lead and went on to hand the Colonels an 86-73 loss Wednesday night in Stopher Gym.

With the loss, Nicholls slipped to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in Southland play. The setback was also the fifth-straight for the Colonels in the series against Stephen F. Austin (10-3, 2-0).

A total of five Colonels reached double figures in scoring, led by 18 points from Tykeria Williams. The sophomore guard finished with four 3-pointers, including two during the Colonels’ third-quarter rally. Tia Charles scored 15 points and made 3 of 4 from long range, and Cassidy Barrios added 12 points and 10 rebounds for her third straight double-double. The Raceland native nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with nine assists and no turnovers.

The Ladyjacks were paced by a game-high 25 point from Chanell Hayes. SFA shot 52.6 percent from the field including 7 for 10 in the third, but the Colonels forced them into six turnovers in the quarter to help fuel the comeback.

SFA outscored Nicholls by six points in each of the first two quarters to take a 43-31 lead into the break. The lead grew to a 58-40 with less than four minutes in the third before the Colonels went on their run.

Barrios and Charles each hit a 3-pointer to start the spurt, and a Williams 3-ball made the score 60-51. After SFA answered with a field goal, Barrios completed a basket-and-one to make it an eight-point game. Williams then canned a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, and Charles picked up a steal and found Williams for a layup before the buzzer, making the count 62-59.

In the fourth, Nicholls made it a one-point game after a Charles layup and once again at 64-63 on a basket inside from Marina Lilly (11 points). But SFA countered with a field goal and four free throws, and never looked back.

Destiny Collins added 10 points off the bench for Nicholls. For the game, the Colonels shot 42.9 percent from the field and had a great night from 3-point range, knocking down 9 of 18.

UP NEXT

The Colonels head back on the road for their next two games, facing HBU Saturday, Jan. 6. Tipoff at Sharp Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m.