Last week, Nicholls State University senior guard Sumar Leslie received her second weekly award and was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week to compliment her Southland Conference Player of the Week award she previously earned.

According to the women’s basketball captain, the awards are part of her expectations for her hard work and dedication. “It’s just a blessing,” Leslie said. “When you work hard, certain things pay off and you expect these things.”

Leslie becomes the first Colonel to win both weekly awards since former Colonel Ricshanda Bickham did so last February.

In the Colonel’s two games against Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State, Leslie averaged 22.5 points and seven rebounds. Against Southeastern, Leslie lit up the scoreboard for a career-high 34 points, missing only three of 15 field goal attempts.

Women’s head basketball coach DoBee Plaisance was not surprised by the numbers Leslie put up against Southeastern Louisiana. “Sumar can put up numbers like that every night,” Plaisance said. “I was happy that she was able to produce like that, but there was no sense of surprise because she just works that hard, and she puts in a lot of extra work.”

Leslie had the same attitude towards to her career high 34 points game against Southeastern Louisiana. “I feel like I could even do better than that,” Leslie said. “This is nothing that I’m surprised about because I know what I have and I know what I’m capable of doing and feel like I can work even better than that,” she said.

On the year, Leslie ranks second in the Southland Conference in scoring at 16.9 points per game. She also ranks in the Top 5 of the league in free throw percentage (.822), 3-point percentage (.400) and assists (3.9).

Leslie attributes her success thus far to hard work, confidence, dedication and her passion for basketball. She also credits her teammates for her success. “To be a part of the Nicholls women’s basketball team is a blessing,” Leslie said. “Even my teammates around me have helped me get the awards; you can’t do it by yourself.”

More than halfway through her final season as a Colonel, Leslie hopes to be remembered for her leadership both on and off the court, her ability to help others get better and for her name. “I want my name to be special here,” Leslie said. “A good name is everything.”

According to coach Plaisance, Leslie is the whole package. “She’s a great person, she’s a leader, she has a great skills package and we are very blessed to have her,” Plaisance said. “She’s been inspirational to myself as well as inspirational to our team,” Plaisance said. “When she graduates this year, there will be no replacing Sumar Leslie, she’s that special.”