HAMMOND, La. – Nicholls outscored Southeastern Louisiana, 45-23, in the second half to pull away for a 76-60 victory in Southland Conference women's basketball action Wednesday evening in the University Center.
 
The Lady Lions (4-17, 2-8 Southland) held a six-point lead at halftime, but were unable to overcome 31 turnovers. All five starters scored in double figures to pace the Colonels (8-13, 5-5 Southland) to victory.
 
Freshman guard Charliee Dugas led Southeastern with 16 points and was the lone Lady Lion in double figures. Junior guard Taylin Underwood chipped in with nine points and dished out a game-high eight assists.
 
Senior forward Chey Stewart pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for SLU, which finished with a 40-34 rebounding advantage. Dugas, Underwood and sophomore guard Jaclyn Scholvin each recorded two steals apiece for the Lady Lions, who forced Nicholls into 22 turnovers.
 
All but six of Nicholls' points came from its starting lineup. Tykeria Williams (17 points), Taylor Morrison (15 points), Emani White (14 points), Cassidy Barrios (13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Tia Charles (11 points) fueled a balanced Colonel attack.
 
The difference in the game was the Nicholls defense. The Colonels finished with 18 steals in the victory. Morrison and Hope Pawlowski had four steals apiece, while White and Williams added three apiece.
 
Neither team could get a clear advantage in the opening 10 minutes. A three by Dugas allowed SLU to enter the second quarter down 20-18.
 
Southeastern answered with its most efficient quarter of the season, making 77.8 percent (7-for-9) of its field goal attempts to take a 37-31 halftime lead. Despite Southeastern's hot shooting, Nicholls was able to keep within striking distance by forcing 19 Lady Lion turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Southeastern's shooting touch didn't continue in the third quarter. The Colonels held SLU to 23.5 percent (4-for-17) field goal shooting in the period, outscoring SLU, 25-11, in the quarter to head into the final period with a 56-48 advantage.
 
It was Nicholls turn to get hot from the field in the fourth quarter to squash any chance of a Southeastern comeback. The Colonels netted 75.0 percent (9-for-12) of their field goal attempts to pull away for the 16-point victory.
 
Southeastern will return to the road, traveling to Central Arkansas for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday in Conway, Arkansas. The game can be heard live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.