Photo by: Nicholls Athletics

Forward Lexi Alexander [#21] getting past a defender during a game against Texas A&M-Commerce

PHOENIX – The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team defeated Eastern Illinois University 63-55 to snap a two-game losing streak on Friday, Nov. 24.

The win lifts Nicholls to 4-2 in coach Justin Payne’s first season.

This game, a part of the annual Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Classic, was hosted by Grand Canyon University. 

Nicholls recorded a season-high 18 total steals in the win. Of the 18 steals, 16 came from four of the five starters.

Sophomore forward Lexi Alexander led the team with six steals, with two in each of the last three quarters.

Senior guard Kyla Hamilton picked up five steals, freshman guard Betzalys Delgado picked up three steals, and junior forward Deonna Brister grabbed two steals.

Off the bench, senior guard Ashley Malone and junior forward Violette Skipworthh each recorded one steal.

Alexander led the team in scoring and rebounds, recording 17 points and seven rebounds. She also grabbed one assist.

Coming off the bench, junior forward Daelyn Craig recorded 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block.

Nicholls also recorded a season-low of eight personal fouls. 

This is the first game this season that Nicholls finished with single-digit fouls, after recording 24 fouls in its previous game.

Nicholls grabbed its first lead of the game with 1:53 left to go in the first quarter on a Ashley Malone three-pointer.

Nicholls allowed two lead changes in the second quarter but maintained the lead for the remainder of the game.

The largest lead of the game for Nicholls came with 1:39 left in the third quarter when two Malone free throws made it a 13-point Nicholls lead.

Nicholls concludes the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 25 against the host team, GCU.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. central time in Phoenix.

ESPN+ will broadcast the game.