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HOUSTON – Behind a career high by Lisa Zderadicka and a season best by Rachel Arthur, HBU took advantage of the long ball and points off turnovers in an 80-71 win over visiting Nicholls Thursday evening from Sharp Gym.

Zderadicka shot 8-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-8 from beyond the arc for a career-best 22 points for HBU (6-7 overall, 1-2 SLC). It is the most three-pointers made in a game since Tayler Jefferson hit that many against Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Conference semifinal game on March 14, 2015, and two shy of matching the program record. Rachel Arthur finished one point shy of tying her career high as she scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. Anna Strickland posted the ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ekemini Essien came off the bench to score six points and grab three rebounds. It is the third-straight game she has scored six points. As a team, HBU shot 46 percent from the floor and 44 percent from long range.

Nicholls (3-9, 1-1) was led by Southland Player of the Week Marina Lilly with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Three other Colonels scored in double figures, as they shot 51 percent from the floor as a team. HBU forced 17 Nicholls turnovers which led to 29 points.

HBU jumped out to a 9-4 lead before Tia Charles' trey cut the Nicholls' deficit to two, 9-7. But back-to-back three-pointers by Arthur and Zderadicka gave HBU an eight-point advantage at 15-7 with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter. Nicholls used a 10-2 run to knot the game at 17-all with 2:20 to go, culminated by a Cassidy Barrios three-pointer. HBU scored consecutive baskets to take a four-point lead, but Charles hit from long range late in the quarter to cut the deficit to one, 21-20.

Zderadicka caught fire early in the second half, hitting back-to-back treys to give HBU a seven-point lead, 27-20, 1:07 into the second quarter. After spotting LiAnn McCarthy a jumper, HBU went on a quarter-closing 12-4 run to take a 39-26 lead at halftime.

Both Arthur and Zderadicka scored 12 first-half points, while Charles and Barrios led Nicholls with eight. HBU shot 44 percent from the floor compared to 52 percent for the Colonels.

Nicholls opened the third quarter on an 11-6 run to cut the deficit to six, 43-37. That would be the closest the Colonels came in the quarter as Essien's layup pushed the lead to double-digits and the Huskies entered the fourth quarter leading by 13, 60-47. Essien scored on a layup with 11 seconds left and Meghan Shank had a big block at the buzzer. The Colonels came within eight, but HBU scored eight of the next 11 points to take its largest lead of the game, 72-55, with five minutes left in regulation.

Arthur led HBU with 12 second-half points, followed by Zderadicka's 10. Lilly led all players with 16 points. HBU shot 46 percent from the floor in the half compared to 51 percent for the Colonels.

HBU concludes its three-game home stand Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana. First tip is set for 4 p.m.