THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and a frantic final sequence, the Incarnate Word Cardinals escaped Stopher Gym with a 54-52 victory over the Nicholls State Colonels in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 511, was a defensive grind. Both teams combined to shoot just 32% from the field and committed 33 turnovers. The difference ultimately came at the three-point line and the free-throw stripe, where Incarnate Word found just enough production to overcome a dismal third quarter.

Incarnate Word built its lead in the first half, primarily through a second-quarter surge. After a tight first period that ended with Nicholls State ahead 12-11, the Cardinals erupted for 23 points in the second quarter. Guard Morgan Borgstadt, a sophomore from Verdigris, Oklahoma, spearheaded the run, scoring 11 of her team-high 18 points in the frame. Her third three-pointer of the quarter gave the Cardinals a 34-23 lead heading into halftime.

The momentum evaporated completely after the break. The Cardinals endured a scoring drought of epic proportions, managing only five points in the entire third quarter on 2-of-16 shooting. Nicholls State slowly chipped away, with Tanita Swift and Sh’Diamond McKnight leading the charge, to pull within 39-36 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair. Nicholls State finally drew even at 44-44 on a layup by India McMahon with 5:51 remaining. The teams traded blows down the stretch, with Swift giving the Colonels a 52-50 lead on a turnaround jumper with just 31 seconds left on the clock.

The most important sequence of the game followed immediately. On the ensuing possession, Incarnate Word’s Jorja Elliott was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to tie the game at 52 with 21 seconds remaining. Nicholls State called a timeout to set up a final play.

Out of the timeout, the Colonels’ inbounds pass was deflected and a held ball was called, with the possession arrow favoring Incarnate Word. The Cardinals inbounded with 6.6 seconds left. The initial play broke down, and Brynn Lusby’s jumper from the baseline missed. But forward Raimi McCrary crashed the boards from the weak side and converted the putback layup as time expired, delivering the dramatic road win for the Cardinals.

McCrary, who played 36 minutes, finished with 11 points and several key rebounds, non bigger than the final one. Elliott added 14 points, four assists and hit the crucial late free throws. For Nicholls State, Swift led all scorers with 21 points, while McKnight added nine points and five steals.

Despite the loss, Nicholls State held advantages in several categories, shooting 49% from the field to Incarnate Word’s 33% and recording 10 steals to the Cardinals’ six. However, the Colonels were undone by a 1-for-8 performance from three-point range and 5-of-9 shooting at the free-throw line. Incarnate Word, meanwhile, hit eight three-pointers and made 12 of its 16 free throw attempts.

The win improves Incarnate Word to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in Southland play. Nicholls State falls to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Both teams return to action Thursday, with Incarnate Word traveling to face New Orleans and Nicholls State hosting Houston Christian.