Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:59 a.m.

Nicholls State's women's basketball coach "DoBee" Plaisance is giving her team a chemistry lesson on the court.

Nicholls State junior guard KK Babin (10) is a two-year returning starter for the Colonels and was an All-Southland Conference selection last season.

With two weeks remaining before the start of the 2012-13 college basketball season, the Colonels are preparing for their season opener at DePaul on Nov. 9.

Plaisance said implementing the new players into the system and building chemistry is the focus of her team's four-week practice schedule.

"My biggest focus (in practice) is building their confidence in each other. By that, I mean them having a better understanding of each other's game. We have to have a better understanding of what people are going to do and play to their strengths," Plaisance said. "Once we have a better understanding, then comes the chemistry. I always build a program with the Lord Jesus Christ, great players and chemistry. I am feeling that now (chemistry) is our point of focus. If the intangibles play out with this team, we should have a successful season."

The Colonels are coming off an historic 2011-12 season in which they won the most games in a single-season (15) and won the program's first-ever Southland Conference tournament game.

Nicholls entered last year's tournament as the eighth seed and defeated No. 1 seed Central Arkansas before losing to Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals.

One factor that played a part in the Colonels' success last season was team chemistry. With a solid nucleus returning, Plaisance said she expects that chemistry to return as soon as possible.

"We will have a lot of versatility this year, but I think the fans will be excited about the quality we will put on the floor," Plaisance said. "We are talented, but in a structured system, they are reading each other well and the chemistry, I see it start to come on the court. We are excited the season is finally here. We definitely turned a corner last year and now Nicholls State's women's basketball is here to stay."

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Nicholls working on its chemistry