Photo by: Nicholls Athletics

Nicholls Women’s Basketball huddles during a game against ULL. (Nov 18)

LAFAYETTE – The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team lost 69-63 to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in overtime on Saturday.

Overtime brought along eight lead changes, but Louisiana-Lafayette took control of the game in the closing minute to win.

Nicholls head coach Justin Payne said that the opportunity to finish the job was there, but the team did not execute.

“We left a door open and Louisiana took it,” Payne said. “We should’ve finished that one, but we’ll learn and get better.”

Nicholls held Louisiana-Lafayette scoreless for more than five minutes in the second quarter, thanks to a few steals and rebounds, along with a pair of buckets from junior forward Daelyn Craig.

Nicholls led at the end of each of the first three quarters and led by as much as 13 in the fourth quarter.

Nicholls led by eight points with less than two minutes remaining. 

Nicholls got into foul trouble and gave up multiple three pointers which allowed Louisiana-Lafayette to take the lead with six seconds remaining. 

Delgado split two free throws in the closing seconds to tie the game.

The offensive effort by Louisiana-Lafayette in overtime proved too much as Nicholls as lost 69-63.

In her first collegiate start, freshman guard Britiya Curtis played all 45 minutes and led the team in points with 13.

Freshman guard Betzalys Delgado led the team in assists [6] and steals [4].

Sophomore forward Lexi Alexander recorded her 10th career double-double, scoring 11 points and leading the team in rebounds with 10.

Nicholls continues the road trip to Phoenix to compete in the Grand Canyon University Classic.

Nicholls will face Eastern Illinois University on Friday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. and Grand Canyon University on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 3 p.m. before returning home on Nov. 28 to face Dillard University.