THIBODAUX, La. – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team suffered an 89-77 setback at Nicholls on Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gymnasium.
 
Based on the results around the Southland Conference, the Lions clinched a berth into the conference tournament on Thursday night. A&M-Commerce is now 11-14 overall and 6-9 in conference play, while Nicholls is 13-14 overall and 7-8 in conference play. The two teams split the regular season series, with the Colonels winning over the Lions for the first time.
 
The Colonels scored 14 of the first 16 points of the game and never trailed in the game. The Lions were able to get the deficit down to five in the first quarter and trailed 27-21 at the end of the first quarter.
 
At the 6:36 mark of the second quarter, Cora Horvath (Obertwart, Austria) hit a three-pointer to make it a 33-31 game, but Nicholls answered with an 8-2 run to re-take an eight-point lead.
 
In the third quarter, Nicholls outscored the Lions, 27-16, with Nicholls holding a lead as big as 19 in the quarter. Jada Hood (Roseville, Minn.) came into the game in the second half and scored 14 points, including a three-pointer as well as a layup from Ahmya Boyce (Newport News, Va.) brought A&M-Commerce to 84-77 with 50 seconds left, which was the smallest lead for Nicholls in the fourth quarter.
 
Hood hit four three-pointers, going 4 for 6, and added two free throws to lead the team with 14 points in 13 minutes left. Boyce scored 13 points, along with seven assists, four rebounds, one block, and one steal. Horvath added 10 points, while Jordyn Newsome recorded nine points and eight rebounds.
 
Off the bench, Jordyn Beaty (Woodville) had her second double-double of the season, totaling 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) tallied seven points.
 
The Lions shot 42.6 percent in the first half, 52.6 percent from deep, and 75 percent from the line.
 
Both Britiya Curtis and Lexi Alexander scored 28 points each for the Colonels. Alexander recorded a double-double with 15 rebounds as well. Nicholls outrebounded A&M-Commerce, 50-36.

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After playing their previous three games on the road, the Lions are back at home to face SLC-leading Lamar on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.