Preview: New Orleans Privateers at Nicholls State Colonels

THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — The Nicholls State Colonels look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their position in the Southland Conference standings when they host the struggling New Orleans Privateers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday.

Tipoff is set for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Stopher Gym.

The Colonels (8-8, 1-2 Southland) earned a 79-64 road victory over the Privateers just 12 days ago on Jan. 10. Tanita Swift led Nicholls State with 13 points and seven rebounds in that win. Swift, a key player for the Colonels, is coming off a 20-point performance in a 72-64 loss to Lamar on Saturday.

Nicholls State has alternated wins and losses over its past six games and seeks consistency as conference play deepens.

New Orleans (1-16, 1-3) continues to search for momentum in a difficult season. The Privateers’ lone win came at Southeastern Louisiana, 64-63, on Jan. 8. They enter on a three-game skid, most recently an 85-63 home loss to Stephen F. Austin where Shanihya Brown scored 14 points.

Brown has been a bright spot for the Privateers, averaging 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game over her last seven contests. She nearly posted a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a narrow loss to Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 3.

The matchup pits one of the conference’s more balanced teams against a Privateers squad that has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 77.2 points per game.

Following this contest, Nicholls State travels to face Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. New Orleans visits McNeese State on Saturday.