Its final homecourt appearance Tuesday night could not have gone much better for this year’s Northwestern State women’s basketball team.

 

Northwestern (17-13 overall, 14-8 in conference games) earned its 14th Southland Conference win,  the program’s most since the 2003-04 SLC championship season, as the Lady Demons pulled away in the second half for an 81-65 victory over New Orleans (3-27, 3-19) on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum.

 

“We had consistent scoring in all four quarters,” said NSU coach Anna Nimz. “Obviously, putting up 81 is a good thing and we could have had more.

 

“The players showed a lot of fight. To finish this game out and not look ahead is sometimes hard as we finish out the last game of the regular season for everybody. I am proud of them; it was a big night.”

 

Sophomore forward Vernell “Vee” Atamah poured in 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark in the process. She is the second youngest and fourth fastest player in program history to accomplish it.

 

“What an accomplishment for Vee,” Nimz said. “It was fun watching the girls rally around her and the true excitement they have for her. That is a great sign as a coach because it makes me feel good about our program.”

 

It is her second 30-point game of the season and just two shy of her career high.

 

The Demons face East Texas A&M in the first round of the conference tournament on Monday at 11 a.m. in Lake Charles.

 

It did not take long for Atamah to break into the 1,000-point club, doing so early in the second quarter.

 

She scored six points in the first quarter, including one of her two made 3-pointers in the game. Atamah is now just one 3-pointer shy of Beatrice Attura’s school record of 88 made triples in one season, set in 2016-17.

 

The 1,000th point came with a minute and a half gone by in the second quarter on a driving layup to give NSU a 23-18 lead.

 

“I am really grateful,” Atamah said. “Being at a program that loves on me and allows me to just play and be me and not change who I am, it makes me a better person and I am really grateful. I love my teammates and they really do care about me and my success, but the team’s as well. We have all rallied behind each other and today just felt really nice.”

 

After posting a career day in the first meeting with 22 points and 11 assists, Nya Valentine nearly matched that with 20 points and nine assists Tuesday.

 

Valentine’s three made 3-pointers gives her 70 this season, the first time a pair of NSU teammates have made at least 70 triples in a season in program history.

 

Her 70 3-pointers are also tied for ninth in program history for a single season, tied with Amanda Bennett (2003-04) and Kia Converse (2000-01).

 

Atamah took over in the second half, scoring 19 in the final 20 minutes, including a personal 7-2 run early in the fourth that pushed it from an 11-point lead to an insurmountable 16-point lead.

 

Once again, the Demons dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds with 14 of them coming from the trio of Atamah, Clarence Djuela and Carla Celaya.

 

The Demons turned them into 25 second chance points, dominating that battle 25-6.

 

“When you have a floor general (Valentine) who can be a floor captain and also can shoot it at the clip she can, it is great,” Nimz said. “She can play off the bounce and find people and help others be better and put them in a good situation to score. That is an incredible asset to have.”

 

NSU enters the conference tournament on a four-game winning streak, its most consecutive wins entering the SLC Tournament since stringing seven consecutive victories prior to the tournament in 2015-16.

 

“What I shared with (the team) is that ‘whether you know it or not, you’re creating a legacy and leaving a mark in the program’s history because it’s been 23 years since the program has won 14 conference games.’ I know our staff has big level of happiness, and it is all thanks to these girls and I am very thankful,” said Nimz.

 

“We have the ability to special, and now it’s time to go show it.”