Monroe, La. - Cassidy Barrios hit an off-balance runner from 15-feet out with nine seconds left, lifting Nicholls State to a 55-54 win over ULM Friday night at Fant-Ewing Coliseum, ending ULM's five-game winning streak.
Barrios, the reigning Player of the Year in the Southland Conference, scored 23 of her 27 points in the second half, leading the Colonels' (5-5) charge to rally from a 23-point third quarter deficit for the win.
ULM (5-3) led 33-10 with 7:55 to play in the third quarter following a three-pointer from Amber Thompson to cap a 7-0 run to open the half. After that, Nicholls outscored ULM 45-21 to pick up the win.
"Hugely disappointing," said head coach Jeff Dow. "Obviously, phenomenal first half, particularly on the defensive end of course, holding them to 10 points like we did, keeping them off the free throw line like we did, keeping them off the (offensive rebounds). As I told them (after the game), you'd much rather learn something from a one-point win in that situation, but, if we do learn something going forward from the disappointment of this game, then there's at least some positive to take away from it."
ULM was in control defensively in the opening half. ULM built a 6-0 lead early, and didn't let Nicholls score until 3:58 was left in the first quarter. A pair of free throws by Arsula Clark capped the quarter with a 12-6 ULM lead.
The Warhawks ratcheted up the defense further in the second quarter, holding Nicholls to just four points in the frame, including a drought lasting 7:42, as ULM outscored the Colonels 14-4 in the quarter to lead 26-10 at halftime. The 10 points matches a school record set in 1985 for fewest points allowed in a half.
Early in the third quarter, it looked like much of the same from the first half. Clark and Jamie Means hit layups, while Thompson buried a three-pointer to push the lead to 33-10 with 7:55 to go. Nicholls quickly let loose, going on a 31-5 run to close the quarter, pulling within a possession on a jumper by Barrios in the final seconds to trail 41-38 after three quarters.
Early in the fourth quarter, ULM pushed the lead back to six on a free throw by Lauren Fitch and a layup from Diamond Brooks, leading 44-38 with 8:36 left. Nicholls responded with an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the night, going on top on a three-pointer from Barrios at 46-44 with 4:31 remaining.
"Cassidy Barrios made some tremendous plays down the stretch," Dow said. "That's why she's reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year. She's a phenomenal player."
From there, it was a back-and-forth game, with three ties and four lead changes over the final 4:31 of the game. Barrios put the Colonels on top 53-52 thanks to a layup with 31 seconds left. ULM answered when Clark was fouled on a layup attempt and hit both free throws, putting the Warhawks up 54-53 with 19 seconds left. Barrios answered again with her runner with nine seconds left. ULM's last chance, a floater from Fitch in the lane, bounced off as time expired.
Dow said the Warhawks struggled in three areas in the second half.
"I know we got our share of offensive rebounds in the second half, we got nine, but we also gave up nine in the process," Dow said. "It just felt like there were possessions we just weren't finishing off. They miss, but then they end up getting an o-board and a chance to reset their offense. Any of three areas, if we're just slightly better, defend, rebound, take care of the ball, if we're one possession better, we win that game."
Clark led ULM with 16 points, making a living at the free throw line with a 12-of-14 night. Thompson was the only other Warhawk in double figures with 12 points. Clark and Thompson had eight rebounds each as ULM out-rebounded Nicholls 42-29. ULM shot 32 percent from the floor at 16-of-50, and hit just 4-of-18 three-pointers at 22.2 percent. Nicholls heated up in the second half, shooting 36.7 percent for the game after going 5-for-25 in the first half at 20 percent.
ULM is on the road for its final two games before Christmas, starting Monday at Southeastern Louisiana. The Warhawks and Lions will tip-off at 5:30 at University Center in Hammond. Links to live video, audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com. The Warhawks are not home again until December 30 when they host Arkansas Monticello to wrap up non-conference play.
