Colonels fall at Mississippi State

The magic ride ended for the Nicholls State University women’s basketball team this past weekend.

The Colonels played tough with powerful Mississippi State for a while, but their effort wasn’t enough and the Lady Bulldogs’ talent, size and skill muscled them to a 95-50 win.

But while there were a few long faces in the Colonels’ locker room after the game, spirits were pretty high – all things considered.

Because the past few weeks have been an amazing ride – one which folks around these parts will be talking about for a long, long time.

Nicholls’ season ended, but it was a historic run which elevated the program to heights that it’d never seen before.

The Colonels tied their program record for wins and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

All that adds up to an unquestioned success, according to those who lived in first-hand.

“This was a historic moment for us,” Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance said. “I can’t be more proud of our kids. The way they battled and it’s what got us to this point. It’s about a Colonel win and we won some moments out there. There were some wins to take away with and that’s what we’re going to grow on.”

On the court, the Colonels ran into a ferocious foe.

The Lady Bulldogs are one of the best teams in the country – the defending National Champions and one of the teams on a short list of favorites to win it all again.

Nicholls played tough early on. They scored first and held an early lead in the opening minutes of the game.

But Mississippi State fixed itself later in the quarter and stormed out to a 21-13 lead at the end of one.

In the second quarter, the floodgates opened and the Lady Bulldogs stormed out to a 30-point lead.

Mississippi State’s athleticism and size proved too much for the Colonels, who simply didn’t have the depth of bodies to keep up.

The Lady Bulldogs outrebounded Nicholls 51-29 in the game and four Nicholls players either fouled out or finished the game with four fouls.

“We really looked at it as a David and Goliath battle,” Nicholls senior post Marina Lilly said. “As a whole, we were just hold on to the details of what the coaches told us to do. We wanted to either get (Mississippi state post Teaira McCowan) in foul trouble early, or just don’t let her tough the ball or just dig out. … IF you go look at the game, we just dug out when she touched the ball and tried our best to box out and just played big.”

Plaisance conceded that the size disadvantage was a huge factor in the game, but added that the Lady Bulldogs are a championship team – both on and off the floor. She said that the way the Lady Bulldogs treated the Colonels – both before and during the game – showed why they’re the team that they are atop the national hierarchy.

“They’re a class act,” Plaisance said. “When we were pummeled on the floor, I think that Mississippi State Bulldogs got to our players before our own players had to go to pick them up. They were much better in person. Their chemistry was good to see, not as much for my bench as for the love of the game. There was a lot of great chemistry out there. … I think they have something special going on.”

In the second half, Nicholls competed, but never challenged victory.

Mississippi State extended their lead to 80-37 at the end of the third quarter, then played reserves primarily for the rest of the game to send the score to its final margin.

Tykeria Williams led the Colonels with 16 points and junior Cassidy Barrios had 14.

Barrios said she and the Colonels were not nervous about facing the Lady Bulldogs, adding that they had a good gameplan and tried to stick to it as best they could throughout the game.

“We wanted to play their game,” Barrios said. “We just stuck to our game plan the entire time. I’m very proud of our team. I got out there and there was a big crowd. But our team stuck together. We did some great things together that I’m really proud of.”

Barrios’ thoughts echoed throughout the rest of the locker room, as the Colonels expressed pride in what they’ve accomplished throughout the year.

Plaisance said she’s sad to see the journey end, but added that this is just the beginning for Nicholls.

The Colonels graduate two starters off the team, but nothing else. They return eight letter winners off this team, including Barrios, who was the Southland Conference Player of the Year.

But while the future is bright, Plaisance said she wanted a little time to rejoice and embrace this team – one which she said will start the team on its prosperous future.

“I know I’ve said this already, but it’s so important that these kids understand this – we’ve seen success this year, but success is not what it’s all about,” Plaisance said. “It’s about being significant. When you’re successful, it’s about an entity or yourself. When you’re significant, you’re making a difference. I am so enamored to be working with these incredible women. I really feel like they were significant and they made a difference.”

Nicholls women’s basketball

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