Diocese awarded $20M bond deal
November 28, 2006Thibodaux toy drive kicks into high gear
December 1, 2006
From Sports Information
The Nicholls Lady Colonels used an 11-2 run in the last 2:51 to defeat the Wright State Raiders, 65-56, in the third place game of the UM Thanksgiving Classic, Saturday evening at the BankUnited Center.
Wright State (0-4) out shot Nicholls 48 percent to 44 percent from the field, and also held a 33-27 advantage on the boards. However, the Lady Colonels finished 75 percent from the free throw line to the Raiders’ 46 percent, and also forced Wright State into 18 turnovers to just 12 by Nicholls (1-5).
Claire Barry led the Lady Colonels with a career-high 21 points. She added three assists and two steals. Jamie Octave contributed 19 points, two assists, one block and one steal.
Whitney Lewis finished with 21 points and six rebounds for the Raiders. Sierra Crayton recorded 13 points and five rebounds.
The early minutes of the game featured six ties. However, a Lewis layup gave the Raiders a 23-18 advantage with 7:04 remaining in the first half, but Nicholls followed with a 9-0 run to regain the lead, 27-23. With the Lady Colonels up 33-27 with two minutes left in the half, the Raiders used an 8-2 burst, including threes from Kanisha Ward and Lewis, to tie the game at 35 heading into the break.
Neither team had more than a four-point lead for the first 11 minutes of the second half until a Barry three-pointer put Nicholls up 51-44 at the 8:17 mark.
The margin was still seven three minutes later when a Ward three from the right elbow started the Raiders on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 53-53 with 3:39 to play. The score stayed tied, this time at 54-54, as Erica Richardson hit one of two from the foul line at the 2:51 mark.
The Lady Colonels, however, went back in front to stay on two Tiffany Lewis foul shots with 2:23 left. Octave followed on the next possession with a three-pointer from the right corner as the shot clock was winding down.
Wright State’s Lewis hit two foul shots with 1:11 left to cut the lead to 59-56, but the Raiders could get no closer as the Lady Colonels sealed the win by hitting all six foul shot attempts the rest of the way.
Nicholls will open their 2006-07 home schedule on Wednesday, as they host New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. at Stopher Gymnasium.
COLONELS DROP GAME TO OLE MISS, 100-80
The Colonels played tough against Ole Miss on Friday night in C.M. Tad Smith Coliseum, but the Rebels pulled away in the second half to beat Nicholls 100-80.
“I can’t ask my guys to play any harder than they did tonight,” said head coach J.P. Piper about his team’s effort Friday night. “We are just short handed right now, and will be a lot better when James (Dixon) and Chris (Paige) suit up for us.”
Senior guard/forward Stefan Blaszczynski made his return performance a memorable one by coming off the bench to score 21 points and grabbing five rebounds. Blaszczynski moved into the Colonels’ top 25 scorers of all-time with his effort tonight, and showed no signs of lingering affects from his injury.
Blaszczynski was one of three Colonels in double digits. Sophomore guard/forward Ryan Bathie finished with a new career high 18 points. Bathie drained four of his nine three point attempts, and hauled in six rebounds in the loss.
Freshman center Mitch Boyce also scored a new career high by adding 14 points of his own to the scoreboard. Boyce made four of his five shots from behind the arc, and was instrumental in the Colonels first half lead. However, Boyce got in foul trouble and was limited in action during the second half.
The Colonels (0-7, 0-0) out shot the Rebels from three-point land by making 12 of their 28 shots for 42.9 percent for the game, but could not match up inside with Ole Miss. The Rebels out rebounded Nicholls 43 to 26 in their 20-point victory, and improved to 6-1 on the season.
“I am proud of our guys, and I know that they will keep their heads up through the rest of our tough non-conference schedule,” said Piper.
Nicholls will be back in action at Auburn on Tuesday November 28. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
DURHAM SIGNS THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Second-year head baseball coach Chip Durham announced Tuesday afternoon, the signing of three high school stars during the early signing period.
Drew Erwin, Paul LeVasseur and Seth Webster have signed to play with the Colonels for the 2008 season.
“We are extremely excited about the signing of these young men,” commented Durham. “One of the positives with regard to signing high school players is that it allows you more time to develop them and integrate them into your program.”
Erwin, a 6-foot, right-handed pitcher from Alvin High School in Alvin, Texas, heads into his senior season after being selected as a first-team all-district selection as a junior.
“Drew is coming to us as a very polished pitcher, with good arm strength. He is someone who could become a weekend starter for us down the road.”
A 5-9 outfielder from Breaux Bridge, La., LeVasseur played a key role in leading his team to the second round of the 4A state playoffs for the past two years. A starter on the varsity level since his freshman year, LeVasseur hit .479 overall and .639 with three home runs in district play. For his performance, he garnered all-district and all-state honors. Despite suffering a minor injury during his sophomore year, LeVasseur still managed to hit .315, en route to being named to the all-district team.
“LeVasseur is an outfielder who can hit and run. He excels at getting on base and scoring runs. He’s proven that he can hit at the high school level and we are hoping that can translate to the college level.”
Webster, a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher from Deville, La., enters his senior year at Buckeye High School as a three-year starter at pitcher and shortstop. An all-district selection the past two years, Webster posted a 4-2 record with a 1.73 ERA during his junior season, fanning 76 batters in just 44 innings pitched. In addition to his all-district honors, Webster was named to the all-CENLA and Honorable Mention All-State teams. Webster has a career record of 16-4, including pitching a perfect game as a sophomore, along with a no-hitter as a junior.
“Seth has the potential to be a weekend starter for us as early as next year. With some development, he could be a dominant pitcher in the Southland Conference.”
Photo provided by Doug Keese/NSU- Senior guard Claire Berry scored a career-high 21 points and helped lead the Lady Colonels to their first win of the season, 65-56, over Wright State, last Saturday night.
