HAMMOND — Step one is accomplished for the Northwestern State women’s basketball team.
After results this past weekend, the Demons (12-12, 9-6) have clinched a spot in the eight-team Southland Conference Tournament, and focus is entirely on earning the highest attainable seeding, aiming to earn a bye in the first round of the tournament.
Currently, Northwestern sits in fifth place, a half-game behind UIW for the final bye spot. The Demons aim to improve their seeding but have a tough task tonight on the road against league-leading Southeastern Louisiana (22-3, 16-0).
Tip-off at University Center is at 6 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
“We need to take different things we did successfully (last week in losses) against SFA and Lamar,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “We outrebounded SFA by 20 and matched Lamar in paint points, but the key will be taking care of the ball.
“They are undefeated in conference for a reason, but we played them tight in Natchitoches this year and played them tight at Southeastern last year. It is just about correcting us.”
In the previous meeting this season, the Demons cut an 18-point halftime deficit to just four points midway through the fourth quarter before SLU pulled away with an 11-3 spurt late to put the game away.
Mya Blake tallied 20 points in the first game and is coming off a 22-point performance against SFA, two of her eight 20-point games this season.
In addition to her 22 points against the Ladyjacks, she also recorded eight rebounds, seven assists and a career-high six steals.
Vernell Atamah posted 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds last time out. She poured in 21 in the first meeting with Southeastern.
The Lady Lions have rolled their way to an undefeated mark in league play, winning 16 in a row overall and dating back to last season, 17 consecutive conference games.
Of Southeastern’s 22 wins, only seven have come by single digits and only three of those have come by two scores or fewer.
Northwestern, on the other hand, is experienced in close contests, having played seven games decided by two scores or fewer.
This matchup pits the third-best field goal percentage team (SLU) against the top field goal percentage defense (NSU) during league games.
The Demons wrap up the road portion of their schedule Saturday afternoon at New Orleans before heading home to Prather Coliseum for the final three games of the season, starting with a pivotal game against UIW next Thursday, Feb. 27.
