Box Score


 
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore forward Aja Gibson hit two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to provide the Lady Lions with a 73-72 win over Nicholls Saturday afternoon in the University Center and a spot in next week's Southland Conference Tournament.
 
The Lady Lions (12-17, 7-9 Southland) erased a 10-point halftime deficit to clinch their fourth straight league tournament appearance. Southeastern will face No. 2 seed McNeese State at 12 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round at the Merrell Center. Nicholls State (14-15, 7-9 Southland) will be making their first tournament appearance since 2005 and will face top-seeded Central Arkansas on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
Saturday's game went much like Southeastern's season went, as the Lady Lions dug out of an early hole and kept battling until the end. The Lady Lions started 0-5 in league play, before righting the ship by winning seven of 11 down the stretch heading into the postseason.
 
“The credit goes to this group of Lady Lions for never giving up,” Southeastern Louisiana head coach Lori Davis Jones commented. “We didn't change much at halftime, it was up to our players – especially the seniors – to decide it was time to play up to their capabilities. I'm very proud of our effort throughout this season and we're excited to be back in the Southland Conference Tournament.”
 
Playing in her final home game, Southeastern senior guard Jessica Sommers scored a career-high 21 points, netting seven of 13 shots from behind the arc. Sommers was joined in double figures by junior forward Brandi Simmons (12 points) and Gibson (11 points).
 
Two other seniors had big impacts in their final game in the University Center. Senior guard Kelli Jenkins scored eight points and dished out a game-high eight assists. Senior guard Latoria Holder shared game-high rebounding honors with Gibson, pulling down a career-high nine rebounds to go with five assists and two steals.
 
Simmons led the Lady Lions with three steals and two blocked shots. Jenkins also had two steals, while her heir apparent at point guard – freshman Elizabeth Styles – added nine points off the bench.
 
Junior forward Alisha Allen led Nicholls State with 23 points and nine rebounds. Allen was one of three Lady Colonels in double figures, along with senior guard Sumar Leslie (16 points) and sophomore forward LiAnn McCarthy (13 points). Leslie also led NSU with six assists and two steals.
 
Despite four treys by Sommers in the opening half, Nicholls State went into halftime with a 46-36 lead. The Lady Colonels built the advantage by shooting 57.6 percent (19-for-33) from the floor in the opening half.
 
Southeastern methodically cut into the Nicholls State advantage in the second half. The Lady Lions took their first lead on a layup by Simmons with 9:16 remaining that gave Southeastern a 62-61 lead.
 
Nicholls would come back over the next several minutes. A pair of free throws by Allen pushed the Lady Colonel advantage back to five, 68-63, with 6:47 left.
 
Styles and Jenkins answered for Southeastern, as the present and future of the Lady Lion point guard position combined for an 8-0 run over the next three minutes. A pair of free throws by Jenkins gave the Lady Lions a 71-68 lead with 3:48 remaining.
 
After a pair of free throws by Leslie cut the lead to 71-70 with 3:30 left, both defenses stiffened. Neither team scored again until Allen hit a pair of free throws to give NSU a 72-71 lead with 54 seconds remaining.
 
After both teams traded empty possessions, Southeastern had one last shot. Jenkins penetrated and found Gibson in the lane and the Somerville, Tenn. native was able to draw a foul on Leslie. Gibson's two free throws gave the Lady Lions a one-point lead with 14 seconds left.
 
Nicholls got McCarthy a good look, but her shot missed right. Allen was there for the offensive rebound, but Gibson blocked her put back attempt to secure the victory for Southeastern.
 
Tuesday's game between Southeastern and McNeese State will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net. Live stats and video will be available at www.Southland.org. On Monday evening at 7 p.m., Southeastern fans in the area are invited to a  social with the team and Southeastern Athletics administrators at the Spring Hill Suites, located at 2501 Texmati Drive, Katy, Texas, 77494.