Photo by: Jailen Leach/Nicholls Athletics

Kyla Hamilton shooting in warmups

THIBODAUX – The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team fell short to the University of The Incarnate Word by a final score of 47-52.

The loss drops Nicholls to  6-8 in conference play and 12-14 overall.

Sophomore forward Lexi Alexander led the team in points [13], rebounds [9] and blocks [3].

Alexander also recorded two assists and one steal.

Nicholls kept the lead for the entire first half outside of one possession, leading at the break 25-20.

The second half went in the opposite direction.

In the third quarter, UIW went on a 15-2 run and led 37-31 at the end of the third quarter and did not relinquish its lead.

Nicholls’ 13 personal fouls in the second half helped fuel the UIW comeback win.

Nicholls head coach Justin Payne said the team has to play smarter if they want to go far in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament.

“These kids are playing hard, and I want them to continue that,” Payne said. “However, we can’t be slapping out basketballs like that, we need to be keeping our hands straight in the air.”

Nicholls faces Texas A&M – Commerce in its final home game of the season on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m. in Stopher Gymnasium.

Nicholls will honor its seven graduating seniors as part of its Senior Day celebration.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.