Nicholls State Knocks Off Top-Seeded Central Arkansas, 79-59
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas - Top-seeded Central Arkansas had come back from a
16-point deficit against Nicholls State, rallying to defeat the Colonels 66-59
on January 18. The Sugar Bears found themselves in a similar hole on Tuesday
evening, only this time, there would be no comeback.
The emotionally charged Colonels hit a conference-tournament record
14 3-pointers against the regular season champions en route to a shocking 79-59
upset that also marked Nicholls' first victory in Southland tournament annals.
"Man, I've never seen a team that was so amped up to play as
Nicholls State was," said UCA coach Matt Daniels. "The environment they had,
the crowd that they had, the band was there... it felt like a better environment for
Nicholls State than we play there. They played up to that."
Nicholls became only the second eight seed to send a top seed to
an early exit, joining Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which shocked Texas State
by a 20-point margin in 2008.
UCA (24-7) held a 9-8 lead before Nicholls (15-15) responded with
a 14-3 run that not only gave them the lead for good against a Sugar Bears team
that had few answers to what Colonels coach DoBee Plaisance and her squad threw
at them.
The Sugar Bears were one of the nation's top teams in defending
3-pointers, yet allowed Nicholls to shoot 56 percent from beyond the arc en
route to breaking Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's mark of 12 set in the 2007
tournament.
"There was a reason why we came in the way we did," Plaisance
said. "At shoot around, I was teary-eyed, literally, sitting there watching
them in a normal shoot around. I couldn't say anything. I was like 'they've got
it.'"
No one had more for Nicholls than forward LiAnn McCarthy, who
scored a game-high 32 points, including seven 3-pointers, which tied UTSA's
Jordan Stark (2009) for the single-game record in tournament play.
McCarthy's marksmanship came at key moments throughout the
contest, especially in the second half as UCA, which trailed 39-23 at
intermission, closed to within 56-51 with 7:14 remaining behind the play of
conference player of the year Megan Herbert, who scored all 16 of her points
after intermission as the Sugar Bears mounted a furious comeback.
After Jenny Nash converted a trey, McCarthy followed up with a
basket of her own that extended the lead to 63-51 before she and Nash teamed up
for consecutive 3-pointers that put the game away for the Colonels with 2:56
left.
While McCarthy had a record-setting effort on the offensive end,
Plaisance said she was most proud of McCarthy's effort on the defensive end,
where she helped contain UCA to just 38 percent shooting from the field.
"We came up with a game plan, and it was the kids that executed
it," Plaisance said.
The Colonels also succeeded in minimizing mistakes, committing
just five turnovers on the night. They also displayed a tremendous effort in
distributing the ball, recording assists on 24 of their 28 field goals.
As the regular season champions, UCA will play in the Women's NIT,
but may have to do so without defensive stopper Desiree' Rogers, who sustained
a knee injury early in the first half.
"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished during the season,"
said Daniels. "Nicholls was unbelievable tonight. We were unbelievable, but
just in a different direction."
Postgame Quotes
Nicholls State head coach DoBee Plaisance
Opening statement...
"I have always wanted to be a position
to say this, but something we say everyday in the huddle is "All things are
possible through the Lord, Jesus Christ. I am not trying to be philosophical or
anything. I felt it. There was a reason why we came in the way we did. I could
not be any prouder of these women. At shoot-around today, I was teary-eyed.
Today, I couldn't say anything. I was like, 'they got it, they got it.' I can't
be any more pleased with the women. Let me say this, hat's off to [Central
Arkansas head coach] Matt Daniel and his crew. He is a class act. His staff is
a class act. His players are a class act. They have deserved a lot, and I can't
say enough about their heart and hustle out there. Both teams were battling out
there. Neither team wanted to give it up, and I am just thankful at the end of
the day, we won the war."
On Nicholls State's defense...
"We happened to do a lot of things
that happened to disrupt their comfort zone. It was a little risky because they
have so many weapons on the outside. On any given day, any player can launch
from deep, but we had to take some chances. Not that I am going to get into the
defensive scheme, but if anyone has watched us all year, we are a match-up zone
and we played man-to-man tonight."
On slowing down Player of the Year Megan Herbert...
"She isn't the player of the year for
nothing. She is just a great person of character. We knew that we had to
contain her, and it was by committee. The plan was to front her and deny her a
touch. And then we had to help and double-team down. We came up with a game
plan and it was the players that executed it."
Nicholls State sophomore forward LiAnn McCarthy
On tonight's game...
"I am just speechless. I am so excited
that we just be the No. 1 team in the conference. Congratulations to Central
Arkansas. They are a really good team. We lost to them twice in the regular
season, but we won tonight when it counted."
Nicholls State senior guard Sumar Leslie
On finishing the game strong...
"Coach always preaches about finishing
strong, and tonight we did what we had to do. The defense was the main key in
coming up with the win. I believe from the beginning of the game it was very
important to keep the energy going and intensity as a team. We kept it going
throughout the whole game. Everything came together and we finished strong as a
whole. We played as a unit and we played together to get the win."
Central Arkansas head coach Matt Daniel
Opening statement...
"Let me say this: I have never seen a
team as amped up to play a game as Nicholls State was tonight. I have never
seen a team play like that. Every shot they took was either a layup or a
3-point and they both looked the same because every shot was going in the basket.
But some nights you have it, and some nights you don't, and tonight we did not
have it. I am very proud of our team and everything we have accomplished this
season. But Nicholls was unbelievable tonight."