For Nicholls, the message is clear: Peak at the right time

Questions about one season … and the next!
March 5, 2019
Wait for facts before judgments
March 5, 2019
Questions about one season … and the next!
March 5, 2019
Wait for facts before judgments
March 5, 2019

The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team is going to the Southland Conference Tournament — that’s already been earned.


But coach DoBee Plaisance wants her team to understand that the things they do on the court between now and then could have an impact on how successful their trip in Katy will be.

The Colonels’ enter the final month of the season hot, having won five-straight games at press-time after dusting UNO 66-58 on Saturday afternoon in Stopher Gymnasium.

Plaisance said the team’s recent wins are important, adding that the team is playing for both seeding and pride — two things that could carry the team in the coming weeks.


“We tell the kids, ‘Look, we still have so much to play for,’” Plaisance said. “We’re playing for a bye. And with the way our tournament is set up, that’s huge. If the math falls our way and we win out, we can even still get that double-bye — even though that’s not as likely. But we want our kids to know that it’s important that we’re playing our best right now. There’s still so much at stake — every day is a new opportunity. They’ve responded and the challenge is just to keep it going and be even better than we’ve been.”

Against UNO on Saturday, the Colonels flexed their muscles early.

Nicholls stormed out to a 21-6 lead in the first quarter, using a 17-0 run to close the quarter after UNO took an early 6-4 lead.


The Colonels grew that lead to 37-19 at halftime with balanced scoring.

Senior guard Cassidy Barrios had 12 points in the opening half, but three others — Airi Hamilton, Bryanna Washington and Chrystal Ezechukwu all getting at least 7 points to ignite the rally.

But UNO showed life.


In the second half, the Privateers surged, using back-to-back 3-pointers by South Lafourche graduate and UNO freshman Traya Bruce to cut the lead to 39-29 in the first two minutes of the third quarter.

Nicholls stormed back after Bruce’s shots on a 9-0 run to go up 48-29 midway through the third — a run capped by a 3-pointer from Barrios.

But UNO ended with a flurry, going on a 12-0 spurt in the final five minutes of the quarter to trim the deficit to 48-41 going into the fourth quarter.


But the Colonels pulled away late.

After UNO’s run, they had life, playing stride-for-stride with Nicholls in the fourth.

But every punch they delivered was met with an answer from the Colonels, who successfully salted the game away in the final minutes to secure the win.


Barrios led all scorers with 24 points. But she did it all — like she always does. She was 8-of-14 from the field, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and had 9 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and 6 steals.

Plaisance said Barrios’ ability to be such a dominant player, while also being a humble teammate is one of the most amazing things she’s ever seen in her career as a head coach.

“She’s all about her team first. She’s humble — the most humble person you’re ever going to meet,” Plaisance said. “Cassidy has worked so hard and she’s just the ultimate team player. She does so much and we put such a weight on her shoulders and there’s never a time where she whines or says, ‘Ugh, why do I have to do this?’ She just does the work because it’s what needs to be done for our team. That’s just the type of person and player that she is.”


So for the Colonels, the path to Katy is paved, but how smooth the roads will be once they get there is still up in the air.

The Colonels remain tied for third in the conference at 12-4 — a record they share with Abilene Christian.

Eight teams make the Southland Conference Tournament. The top four teams earn a bye. The top two teams earn double-byes — all the way to the semifinals.


With one win in the final two games of the regular season, the Colonels will clinch themselves of being in the Top 4 and earning the opening-round bye.

If Nicholls wins out, Stephen F. Austin loses out and Abilene Christian loses one game, the Colonels could still be the Southland runner-up and get the double bye.

All that math may be confusing, sure, but for Plaisance, it’s also fuel.


She said it has she and her team’s attention and is serving as motivation during the final stages of the year.

“We want to play our best at the right time,” she said. “And a big part of that is starting as we speak in these games that lead us into the tournament.”

Cassidy Barrios


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