The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team played in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament and lost against Sam Houston State University Thursday.

Sam Houston scored six points in the first two minutes before the Colonels could score, giving Sam Houston a lead that would last for the remainder of the game.

The Colonels had a better third and fourth period with both ending in favor of the Colonels, but the ten-point lead of Sam Houston in the first period was enough to keep the Colonels from taking a lead.

Guards Tia Charles and Taylor Morrison scored 11 points and three second-half comebacks in the game. In the third quarter, the Colonels claimed 9 points with the input of Morrison’s 3-pointer.

The Bearkats  brought in five straight points setting the score to 41-30. The Bearkats took a 7-point lead when Kamry Orr shot a 3-pointer bringing the score against Nicholls to 55-42. In the fourth quarter the Colonels started off 13 behind the Bearkats until Morrison hit a 3.

The Colonels’ center Marina Lilly shed hope in the fourth quarter when the Colonels were down 59-46 and scored nine points. Forward LiAnn McCarthy finished with seven points and nine rebounds for her last game as a Colonel.

McCarthy finished her senior season with 1,029 points giving her the 14^th spot on the all-time scoring list. Along with McCarthy, center Jovana Manic will also be graduating. First-team All-Southland guard Emani White will be returning next season after a redshirted season due to injury.

The Colonels completed the season with a 10-19 overall record.