Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore guard Amber Crenshaw led three players in double figures with a career-high 14 points and the Lady Lions used a strong defensive effort to defeat Nicholls, 60-49, in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in the University Center.

The Lady Lions (9-11, 3-4 Southland) were celebrating Alumni Day and welcomed back over 40 former players, coaches and managers on Saturday. Southeastern was able to force 26 turnovers and drop Nicholls to 3-16 overall and 0-7 in league play.

Crenshaw, a Memphis, Tenn. native, gave Southeastern a spark off the bench, netting 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Crenshaw was joined in double figures by junior guard Chelsea Hix with 12 points. Senior post Zevy Ivory was the third Lady Lion in double figures and posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Kelli Jenkins led Southeastern in assists for the 16th time this season, dishing out a game-high five dimes.

The Lady Lions were able to score 28 points off Nicholls turnovers and the Colonels were the third team this season Southeastern has held under 50 points. Senior guard Kim Edmonson led the Lady Lion defensive effort with a career-high four steals, while junior center Kasia Gawor had two off the bench. Ivory's one blocked shot gives her 76 for her career, moving her into a tie for fifth place on the school's all-time list with Jean Credit.

Nicholls was led by junior guard Ricshanda Bickham and freshman forward Alisha Allen who shared game-high honors with 16 points each. Allen posted a double-double, adding 11 rebounds. Junior forward Cassie Hearon had eight boards for Nicholls and the two teams each finished with 35 rebounds. Bickham led the Colonels with three assists and three steals, but committed six turnovers. Allen had a team-high eight turnovers for Nicholls.

The Lady Lions led 31-22 at the break, but Nicholls cut into the lead with a strong start to the second half. A three-pointer by Hearon capped a 6-0 Colonel run to start the half and cut the lead to 31-28 with 17:33 left.

The Lady Lions bounced back with a 9-0 run led by Crenshaw and Hix to take control of the game. Crenshaw netted treys on consecutive possessions and Hix capped the rally with a triple of her own to put Southeastern up, 40-28, with 16:13 left.

Southeastern led by double digits for the majority of the next 12 minutes, until Nicholls cut the lead down to 50-43 with 4:23 left on an Allen layup.

Once again it was Crenshaw coming up with a big play to thwart the Colonels' momentum. On the ensuing possession, junior guard Mary Fountain found Crenshaw all alone for a three that put Southeastern up, 53-43, with 3:35 left. A bucket by freshman guard Erica Burgess and a three by Ivory were added in an 8-2 run that put Nicholls away.

Southeastern will return to action on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest at Texas State, which will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net. The Lady Lions will be back at home next Saturday, hosting UTSA in the “Pink Zone” game dedicated to the fight against breast cancer at 3 p.m. in the University Center. The first 150 fans at that contest will receive a trading card featuring Edmonson courtesy of the Southeastern PRIDE (Positive Role-models Involved in the Development of Excellence).