Photo by: Ross White/Nicholls Athletics

Center Kate Manley [#30] attempting to pass the ball during against Southern Mississippi

THIBODAUX – The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team cruised to a 68-36 win against Dillard University on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The win gives Nicholls its fifth on the season.

Nicholls had two double-digit scorers in the win. 

Junior forward Deonna Brister led the team with 12 points, and senior guard Kyla Hamilton followed close behind with 11 points.

Brister said she kept finding open shots, which helped her score..

“I really just attacked and got to the free throw line and knocked [shots] down,” Brister said.

Freshman guard Betzalys Delgado led the team in rebounds with seven, senior guards Ashley Malone and Traya Bruce both led the team in steals with three, and both Hamilton and senior guard Mikayla Etienne led the team in assists with three.

Nicholls never gave up the lead during the entire game, leading by as much as 32 when the final horn sounded.

Nicholls started an 8-0 run, but saw its lead drop to four by the end of the first quarter.

Nicholls went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter before Dillard scored its first point of the quarter with 1:44 to go. 

Dillard only scored four points in the second quarter.

By the end of the third quarter, center Kate Manley checked into the game for Nicholls, and put on a performance that had the Nicholls bench on their feet.

Manley was perfect on her three shots, recording seven points, one rebound, one steal, and a team-leading two blocks.

Manley said she is proud of herself and her team for the performance put on.

“I just played my game and I was ready to get in [the game],” Manley said.

Nicholls head coach Justin Payne said Manley did great tonight, which allowed her to stay in the game for 11 minutes, the most she’s played all season.

“[Manley] did phenomenal tonight,” Payne said. “She has been working extremely hard in practice, and she continued to wait until it was her time.”

Nicholls heads back on the road to Lorman, Miss. to take on Alcorn State University on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.