Box Score


 
THIBODAUX – Southeastern Louisiana senior guard Kelli Jenkins and junior forward Brandi Simmons each posted double-doubles, but it was not enough as Nicholls State out-gunned the Lady Lions, 88-79, in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Stopher Gymnasium.
 
Southeastern (5-12, 0-4 Southland) remained winless in league play despite five players scoring in double figures and the Lady Lions finishing with a 54.5 percent (30-for-55) shooting performance from the floor. On the defensive end, the Lady Lions had no answer for Nicholls senior guard Sumar Leslie, who netted a career-high 34 points for the Colonels (10-8, 3-2 Southland).
 
Jenkins led the Lady Lions with 19 points to go with a career-high 11 assists, while Simmons chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Southeastern. Senior guard Jessica Sommers and freshman guard Symone Miller each scored career highs with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Senior guard Latoria Holder added 10 points and she and Jenkins had three steals each.
 
Leslie was 12-of-15 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free throw line on the way to a career night. The Houma native was joined in double figures by senior forward Jasmine Hoskins (16 points) and junior forward Alisha Allen (14 points). Hoskins also led the way for the Colonels with nine rebounds, while sophomore guard KK Babin dished out nine assists.
 
One of the game's deciding factors were the performances of the two teams at the free throw line. Nicholls hit 83.3 percent (20-for-24) from the stripe, while Southeastern connected on just 47.6 percent (10-for-21).
 
The game, which featured eight ties and 14 lead changes, was tight until the 9:08 mark when Simmons pulled Southeastern within two, 60-58. Nicholls answered with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes, as a pair of free throw shots by Allen put the Colonels ahead, 66-58, with six minutes left.
 
Sommers' career-high fifth three pointer of the game pulled Southeastern within five at the five-minute mark, but that was as close as the Lady Lions would come. Nicholls built the lead to as much as 11 and iced the game by going 8-for-10 from the line in the final minute.
 
A wild first half saw the lead change 12 times, with Nicholls going into the break up, 41-39. Leslie made her first eight field goal attempts and scored 18 points to pace the Colonels in the first half.
 
Southeastern shot 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the floor, including 6-for-8 from behind the arc, in the opening half. Sommers led the Lady Lions with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Jenkins, Holder and sophomore forward Aja Gibson had six points apiece with Jenkins also dishing out seven assists.
 
Southeastern will be back in action when it travels to Central Arkansas for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday in Conway, Ark. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.