THIBODAUX, LA – An explosive lead in the start and a strong finish, the HBU Women's basketball team reign victorious to the Nicholls Colonels for the second time this season. The Huskies finished with a 64-59 win in Thibodaux, Louisiana on Wednesday evening in the Stopher Gymnasium.
With the five-minute mark hitting in the first period, the Huskies stormed on top with a 15-9 lead to force a Nicholls timeout. The Huskies finished out a 10-0 scoring run with two minutes left. With a fast break layup by Timia Jefferson, the first ended with a 21-11 lead by HBU. The Huskies maintained their lead throughout the second period with a free throw from Jefferson. Kennedy Wilson exploded out the top of the key for a steal to put up a fast break layup on the board. Julija Vujakovic posted a jumper to keep the Huskies up 10 with six minutes remaining in the half. Patience Idoko second chanced a layup with a minute and a half to go, putting themselves in a 14-point lead with a minute and a half remaining. With a jumper from Nicholls in the final seconds, HBU went to the locker room up 36-24.
Nicholls surged out of the locker room to gain control in the third giving them their first lead with three minutes remaining. The Colonels outscored HBU 23-13 and outrebound 10-to-6. Wilson added a jumper and assisted Jefferson on a layup, putting HBU back in the lead by two. Jefferson began the fourth with a pair of free throws to give the Huskies a four-point advantage. The Colonels were able to break 50 points with a little over six minutes remaining in the game but needed six more points to catch up. Nicholls began to inch closer until Wilson posted a three to put the Huskies at 60. After a HBU timeout to collect their final game plan, Idoko drew a technical foul, and with her free throw and another from Wilson, the Huskies end victorious in a 64-59 win for the series going 2-0 against Nicholls this season.
The Huskies were led by Idoko who scored a career-high 17 points and added five rebounds. Jefferson also posted 17 points for her continued double-digit scoring streak and adding three steals to her season lead. Wilson scored 15 points on the evening with six assists and five rebounds with seven points from N'Denasija Collins and six from Vujakovic. Marilyn Nzoiwu posted 11 boards on the game and a block. HBU shot 38.6 percent from the field with 15 points off 19 turnovers. The team went 16-for-22 at the line and totaled 33 rebounds.
Nicholls was led by Chelsea Cain with 15 points and nine rebounds with Terris McKay just behind with 14 points and added two assists. Adrian Mann followed closely with 13 points and also posted nine boards, while Bryanna Washington scored eight points and posted five boards. The team shot 41.5 from the field with only six points scored on 12 turnovers. The Colonels outrebound the Huskies with 39 and went 13-for-22 at the line.
The Huskies will head back to Houston for a second matchup this week against the McNeese Cowgirls with a noon tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Sharp Gym.
