Nicholls women’s basketball team able to finish in 60-57 win over Northwestern State

Over the past few games, the Nicholls women’s basketball team has had trouble finishing.

Against visiting Northwestern State on Thursday night at Stopher Gym, it was more of a “What a Finish” type game as the Lady Colonels came away with a 60-57 win.

“We’ve been talking about (finishing games) and the girls really stepped up,” Nicholls coach Justin Payne said. “Our staff was ready. We had three amazing practices. We got no quit in us. you know.

“Even though we have been falling short, we know we’ve been playing really, really well. It’s just little things in the game. Finishing at the end, we have a younger group but we’re coming together. We finished one at home, and that’s always a great feeling.”

Although it was by a small margin, Nicholls trailed most of the game against the Lady Demons.

Northwestern State’s burly post player Jordan Todd, who scored a team-high 14 points, was giving Nicholls problems inside before the Lady Colonels produced a pair of big baskets.

An inside basket by Lexi Alexander and a 3-pointer by Mikayla Etienne allowed Nicholls to turn a 49-48 deficit into a 51-49 lead with 4:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

I knew the key to winning the game was for me to keep, punish him in the pain, and my players

From that point, the teams traded baskets until the closing moments.

Alexander’s baskets in the paint – she scored all seven of the Lady Colonels points in a low-scoring third quarter – kept Nicholls in the game as Nicholls made an attempt to get her the ball down low in the second half.

“I knew the key to winning the game was for me to keep punishing them in the paint and my players continue to have confidence in me, so I continue to have confidence in myself to continue going up,” Alexander said.

“We wanted to go inside to her. I told her we still believe in her, even though she had a few rough games. You’re gonna miss and make shots. It’s the game of basketball,” Payne said.

“Our game plan was to really focus on getting inside. If it’s not there, kick int out and keep working the inside because we have the post player that can get it done,” said Deonna Brister.

In the fourth quarter, Brister drove hard down the lane, either scoring a basket or being fouled and knocking down free throws.

“We really make emphasis on free throws, so I knew that if I could get to the free-throw line and knock them down, I struggled with that at first for a little bit. But I eventually started knocking them down and my team had faith in me to take over and we got it done at the end,” said Brister.

With Nicholls clinging to a one-point lead, Kate Manley, the Lady Colonels’ 6-foot-4 senior center, tied up a Northwestern State player, forcing a jump ball, giving possession to Nicholls.

“I just saw it (the ball) coming down. I grabbed it. She (the Northwestern defender) forgot to box me out, so I got it,” said Manley.

The Lady Colonels failed to extend the lead when they gave the ball right back to Northwestern State on another jump ball.

Scoring all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter, Brister scored on a driving layup with 23 seconds left in the game to give Nicholls a 58-57.

The Lady Demons were working down the clock in the final seconds when Jiselle Woodson was called for a double dribble with six seconds left in the game.

Northwestern State was forced to foul, sending Brister to the free-throw line and hitting the final two of her eight free throws with two seconds remaining.

“I was so proud of her to be to have the composure to hit those late. I’m so happy for her because after the loss in Commerce, she was crying. You can feel it. It’s starting to hurt them. I’m so proud of our group,” said Payne.

A desperation shot by Karmelah Dean hit the rim and bounced away, allowing Nicholls to come away with the win.

Nicholls improved to 3-5 in the Southland Conference and 9-11 overall. Northwestern State fell to 4-5 in the league and 8-12 overall.

Northwestern State scored the first five points of the game and built the game’s biggest lead of Nia Hardison free throws gave the Lady Demons a 10-2 advantage slightly more than three minutes in the game.

Nicholls scored the next 11 points to pull ahead 13-10 for its biggest lead of the game at the 2:28 mark of the first quarter.

Although she failed to score, Manley gave Nicholls quality minutes. She produced two quick blocks and ended the game with three rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

“Coach (Nicholas) Graham tells me every day, ‘put your hands straight up and no coming down,’ that’s what I did,” said Manley.

“She was huge for us. I told them, we have an earned, not given, mantra in the locker room. She embodies it. She earned her opportunity today and really stepped up,” Payne said.

Northwestern rallied back and led 17-14 after one quarter.

Trailing 19-18, Kyla Hamilton hit a 3-pointer to give Nicholls a short-lived lead at the 6:59 mark of the second quarter. Hamilton had been honored before the game after reaching the 1,000-point mark of her career.

Northwestern State went up 32-31 at halftime when Jasmin Dixon scored on a layup with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

While Alexander scored all seven of her team’s points in the third quarter, the game remained close going into the final quarter as Northwestern State was held to eight points in the third period.