The Nicholls women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a 1-2 record, picking up a convincing win at home before facing two difficult road tests against Iowa State and Georgia.

While the record may not jump off the page, the opening week provided an early look at a Colonels team still working to establish its identity. There were some encouraging moments, particularly from Britiya Curtis, but also several areas that will need improvement as the season moves forward.



Strong Start Against Dillard

Nicholls opened the season on November 2 with an 83-54 victory over Dillard inside Stopher Gymnasium.

The Colonels controlled the game from the beginning, building a 40-19 halftime lead before eventually cruising to the 29-point victory.

Britiya Curtis led the way with 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Curtis connected on five three-pointers and helped set the tone offensively.

Jasmine Matthews also had an impressive performance, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Makayla Charles added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Shelcie LeBlanc contributed 10 points.

One of the biggest takeaways from the opener was Nicholls' ability to control the glass. The Colonels outrebounded Dillard 51-34, including 20 offensive rebounds. Those extra opportunities helped Nicholls finish with 23 second-chance points.

It was the type of performance Nicholls needed to open the season, especially with two much tougher opponents waiting.

Road Test Against Iowa State

The Colonels traveled to Ames, Iowa, on November 5 for their first major challenge of the season against Iowa State.

Nicholls struggled offensively throughout the contest, falling 68-44 to the Cyclones.

Despite the final score, Nicholls remained competitive early, trailing just 18-13 after the first quarter. However, Iowa State gradually extended its lead, taking a 36-23 advantage into halftime.

Curtis once again led the Colonels, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. Matthews added 10 points, but Nicholls struggled to find consistent production elsewhere.

The biggest issue was shooting. Nicholls finished at just 25 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range.

Rebounding was another major difference. Iowa State held a commanding 51-30 advantage on the boards, limiting Nicholls' opportunities while creating additional possessions of its own.

Facing a Big 12 opponent on the road was never going to be easy, but games like this can expose areas that need attention before conference play begins.

Nicholls Shows Early Fight at Georgia

The Colonels wrapped up their opening week on November 8 with another difficult road matchup, this time against SEC opponent Georgia.

Although Nicholls eventually fell 74-48, the Colonels put together an impressive opening quarter.

After trailing 14-7, Nicholls closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Colonels extended that advantage to 19-14 early in the second quarter before Georgia began taking control.

Georgia outscored Nicholls 19-9 in the second quarter and 23-11 in the third to pull away.

Curtis continued her impressive opening week, scoring 22 points while knocking down four three-pointers. Charnelle Hoof added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.

The biggest concern coming out of the game was turnovers. Nicholls committed 28 turnovers, which Georgia converted into 34 points. The Bulldogs also held a 48-14 advantage in points in the paint.

While Nicholls showed it could compete early against an SEC opponent, maintaining that level of play for four quarters will be important moving forward.

Curtis Establishing Herself as the Offensive Leader

Through three games, one thing has become clear: Britiya Curtis is going to be a major part of what Nicholls does offensively this season.

Curtis averaged 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists during the opening week. She also connected on 10 three-pointers across the three games.

Perhaps just as impressive was her workload. Curtis played all 40 minutes in each of the Colonels' first three games.

Matthews has also shown she can be a valuable offensive contributor, particularly after her 24-point, 13-rebound performance against Dillard.

However, Nicholls will need more consistent scoring throughout the lineup. Against Iowa State and Georgia, Curtis accounted for a significant portion of the team's offense.

Finding additional scoring options will be important, particularly against opponents that make Curtis their primary defensive focus.

What We Learned After Week One

There is no reason to overreact to a 1-2 start, especially considering the level of competition Nicholls faced.

Playing Iowa State and Georgia on the road during the opening week is a difficult assignment for any Southland Conference program. Those games also provide valuable experience that could benefit Nicholls later in the season.

Still, there are areas that cannot be overlooked.

Nicholls averaged just 46 points in its two losses after scoring 83 in the opener. The Colonels struggled with shooting consistency, had trouble matching Iowa State on the glass, and committed far too many turnovers against Georgia.

The encouraging part is that Nicholls showed some fight, particularly in the opening quarter against Georgia. The challenge now is turning those stretches into more consistent basketball.

There is also a difference between competing against Power Four programs in November and preparing for Southland Conference play. The Colonels are not necessarily going to face that same level of competition every night, but the lessons learned from those games should carry over.

Three games are not enough to determine what kind of season Nicholls will have. There is still plenty of basketball ahead, and this team has time to improve.

The biggest question moving forward is whether Nicholls can develop more offensive balance around Curtis while improving its rebounding and taking better care of the basketball.

The Colonels have some pieces to work with. Now it is about putting those pieces together and continuing to improve as the season progresses.