Despite being down early in the first half, the Lady Colonels basketball team picked up the intensity to keep things interesting Saturday afternoon in Stopher Gym, in a 60-66 loss to the University of Texas-San Antonio. The Lady Colonels had to play catch up from early on in the first half after being down by as much as 16 at one point.

“We need to come out strong and play hard the whole game,” head coach Mark Cook said.

The first half charge was led by junior point guard Katherine Plummer who had 16 points, two assists and two steals. Senior Claire Barry also helped the Lady Colonels with 12 first-half points and two out of four shots from the three-point range.

Nicholls went on a 20-5 scoring run late in the half with Barry and Plummer accounting for 18 of those 20 points.

The Lady Colonels’ defense and their 88 percent free throw shooting kept the Roadrunner’s lead to six at half time.

“The attitude in the locker room was enthusiastic and the team knew they had to pick up the defensive play to stay with the constant scoring by the Roadrunners,” Cook said.

As they struggled offensively, the Lady Colonels allowed the Roadrunners continued success from the field.

“We need players besides Kat and Claire to produce on offensive if we want to win,” Cook said.

Foul trouble also hurt the Lady Colonels in the second half. Barry and freshman forward Funaki Kefu each had to sit out during crucial minutes in the second half because of fouls.

Plummer and Barry finished the game with 20 points each. Barry led all second half scoring for the Lady Colonels with six points. Jamie Octave led the team with seven rebounds and also in offensie with seven points. The rest of the team contributed with 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

“We did a good job shooting against their defense,” Roadrunner head coach Rae Ripptoe-Blair said.

The Roadrunners shot 50 percent from the three-point range and 44 percent from the field against the Nicholls zone defense.

The Lady Colonels (5-17 overall, 3-8 conference) still have a chance to make the Southland Conference Tournament, Cook said.

“We control our own destiny,” Cook said about the Lady Colonels future. “We can beat the rest of the teams on our schedule. If we lose there are a number of things that have to happen for us to get in [the tournament].”

“We need to come out and play,” Cook said about the attitude the team needs for the remainder of their road schedule.

The Lady Colonels will go on the road for the next four out of five games.

They have beaten two of the teams remaining, Lamar and McNesse State, but lost to Central Arkansas by two.

The Lady Colonels road record in conference is 1-3, and is a combined 2-3 against their remaining opponents.

The team returns to action against in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday in Hammond at 3 p.m.

The Lady Colonels return home for last time this season on Feb. 22 to play Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.