The Demon Brothers Booster Club invites the community to its annual Crawfish Boil, Spring Game, and Music Fest on Saturday, April 26, from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM under the tent at the Delaney Bowl. This exciting event offers food, music, and football for a great cause—all proceeds benefit the Demon Brothers Booster Club.
Attendees can enjoy all-you-can-eat crawfish and jambalaya for $50 per person or $90 for two. The event will also feature live and silent auctions, drinks, and live music from three incredible bands:
Paris Avenue – 90s alternative, rock, and pop. Deep Water Rehab – Louisiana’s own rock and roll band. Category 6 – A high-energy band performing hits from the 80s to today. The day wouldn’t be complete without football! Fans are invited to cheer on Demon Football during the Delaney Bowl game.
Event will be emceed by former Demon great, 3 time all American, two time Superbowl champion, and CFB Hall of Famer Gary Reasons with many other former Demons and NFL players in attendance.
Band times
Deep Water Rehab 3;00 – 5:00
Parish Avenue 5:30 to 7:30
Category 6 8:00 to 10:00
This family-friendly event is open to the Natchitoches community, NSU students, and faculty. Tickets and sponsorship packages can be purchased at demonbrothers.org (Venmo payments accepted).
Special Accommodation Rates:
Hotel St. Denis – $139 Comfort Inn Suites – $129
Sponsorships and company logos must be in by Friday April 4th in order to get sponsorship signs printed
For those unable to attend but still wishing to support, donations can be mailed to: 824 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA, 71457
Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable day of food, music, and fun!
All proceeds go to the Demon Brothers Booster Club and the Fork Em Collective
Sophomore pitcher Kevin Robinson will start for Northwestern tonight when Centenary comes to Brown-Stroud Field. (NSU photo by GARY HARDAMON)
A rivalry that once was a staple of Northwestern State’s baseball schedule resumes tonight for the first time in more than a decade.
The Demons (14-9) host Centenary (9-14) for the first time in 15 years at 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field, marking the first time Northwestern and the Gents have met since Centenary transitioned from NCAA Division I to Division III.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Demon Diamond softball complex, Northwestern meets Louisiana Tech in a 6 p.m. contest.
The resumption of the baseball rivalry, which Northwestern leads 36-11 since 1990, is the Demons’ first home game since a March 9 win against UIW. That win was part of a 5-0 homestand that rolled into a 5-2 road trip that saw the Demons win consecutive Southland Conference series in that time.
“We can’t wait to get back in front of our fans and all the great things that playing at home offers,” said NSU baseball coach Chris Bertrand, whose team has won nine straight games at Brown-Stroud Field. “We’re exited to be able to showcase the growth, the development and the bonding that took place on that seven-game road trip. Being able to showcase that in the friendly confines of the B-Stro is something I know our guys are looking forward to.”
While returning home, the Demons will turn to a familiar face as the starting pitcher – one that again has ties to Northwestern’s opponent.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Robinson (4-0, 5.25) will make his fifth start of the season against the Gents, adding to his collection of full-circle moments.
After starting games against the alma maters of his father (Louisiana Tech) and brother (Louisiana Christian) a season ago, the Shreveport-Byrd product will be on the mound as the Demons resume their rivalry against his hometown college.
In the softball game, Northwestern’s young squad will try to break through after battling unsuccessfully late into all three games at home this weekend against Southland Conference leader Southeastern Louisiana. Each contest was decided in the sixth (of seven) innings or later.
NSU (3-27) will take on a Bulldogs team (19-11) that posted a homefield sweep of Middle Tennessee State to move to 7-2 in Conference USA. It’s the second matchup between the Demons and Bulldogs, with Tech breaking open a one-run game in Ruston Feb. 19 in the fourth inning on the way to a 9-1 triumph. The visitors bring an eight-game win streak into the contest.
TENNIS STILL UNBEATEN IN SLC: a 6-1 victory in Beaumont, Texas, over Lamar on Monday kept the NSU Lady Demons undefeated in Southland Conference play.
Northwestern (6-6 overall, 6-0 SLC) dominated doubles and rolled to a 4-0 overall lead, clinching the match outcome.
The NSU duo of Sofi Garcia and Ayu Ishibashi got the visitors started as they delivered a flawless 6-0 victory. Pika Doberlet and Tjasa Klevisar secured a 6-2 win to lock up the doubles point.
Garcia was untouchable in a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Emma Palus at the No. 6 singles spot to extend NSU’s momentum and two more straight set singles wins by Homeka Umeda and Ishibashi locked up the sixth SLC victory for the league-leading Lady Demons, who won’t play again until April 5.
DEMONS’ PITCHER MARIONNEAUX NABS SLC HONOR: Sophomore right-hander Dylan Marionneaux’s first career complete-game shutout – a two-hitter at New Orleans on Friday – earned him his first career Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honor, announced Monday afternoon by the conference office.
Marionneaux spun the Demons’ first two-hit, complete-game shutout in nearly seven years. Ridge Heisler had been the last Northwestern pitcher to accomplish that feat, doing so April 14, 2018, against Southeastern Louisiana.
A Zachary High School product, Marionneaux allowed two singles and one walk against the Privateers in a 1-0 victory. He allowed only one runner to reach scoring position. Once that happened, Marionneaux retired the final 13 hitters he faced.
In addition to throwing 68 of his 102 pitches for strikes, Marionneaux extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings dating to a March 7 start against UIW. He will take the mound for Northwestern at home Friday night against Nicholls at Brown-Stroud Field.
Shirley T. Gallien March 19, 2025 Service: Saturday, March 29 at 11 am. in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches
Latasha Clark August 18, 1976 – March 18, 2025 Arrangements TBA
James Reed Stacy Service: Tuesday, March 25 at 10:30 am at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them tonpjnatla@gmail.com
Clay Jung had a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning of NSU’s 10-9 win at New Orleans on Sunday. (NSU file photo by CHRIS REICH)
NEW ORLEANS – The pivotal third game of Northwestern State’s Southland Conference baseball series at New Orleans played out in three acts.
Fortunately for the Demons, they wrote positive chapters in the opening and closing stanzas, holding off the Privateers for a series-clinching 10-9 victory at Maestri Field on Sunday afternoon.
“Everybody on our side is well aware that was not the sexiest baseball, but we’re also well aware that was probably the grittiest we can be,” second-year Demons’ coach Chris Bertrand said. “In a win like that, what you truly want to do is remove all of the great things from it you can continue to learn and continue to clean up the things that ail you. You want to use it as a springboard moving forward.”
Northwestern (14-9 overall, 7-5 SLC) won its second straight SLC road series, third overall, and its fourth straight series at Maestri Field because of a mantra Bertrand has repeated throughout his year-plus as the Demon skipper – put up your fists and fight.
The Demons broke quickly, striking for three-run innings in the first and second after stranding 15 runners on base in a 3-1 loss on Saturday. A brilliant two-hit complete game outing from sophomore Dylan Marionneaux, with a career-eight eight strikeouts, keyed a 1-0 win in Friday night’s series opener. Rocco Gump’s first-pitch fourth-inning homer was the game’s only run.
In Sunday’s rubber match, the Privateers (12-10, 6-6) chewed into NSU’s early 6-0 lead, mostly on a four-run sixth inning. After a leadoff homer in the seventh by Reese Lipoma padded NSU’s margin to 7-5, UNO pounced for three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Down 8-7, the Demons had one big swing left in them. Hudson Brignac was hit with the first pitch of the ninth inning before Lipoma singled to left and Samuel Stephenson laid down a sacrifice bunt moving both into scoring position.
The Privateers intentionally walked Rocco Gump for the second time in the series, allowing Lipoma’s fellow captain, Clay Jung, to deliver a bases-loaded single through the right side that put the Demons on the right side of the late-game roller coaster.
“After they walked Rocco, you take that personally,” said Jung, who had 3 of the Demons’ five hits in Friday’s opener. “I said, ‘Come in here with a fastball.’ He did, and I delivered. We’re resilient. We never put our hands down, and we punched back.”
Daniel Burroway followed Jung’s go-ahead hit with a sacrifice fly that turned into a pivotal insurance run. The Privateers tallied a two-out run off Bryce Leonard (2-1) before Leonard got a grounder to first to secure the victory.
“That’s a Demon type of win,” Bertrand said. “We’re a never-say-die group. We’re a gritty group. Keep punching. There are so many great things about the baseball game, and what we lack in curb appeal, we make up for it in the way we put our fists up.”
The Demons return to action Tuesday when they open a four-game homestand by hosting Centenary. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field. NSU hosts Nicholls in a three-game Southland series starting Friday evening.
Southeastern’s Chole Magee (left) takes a pitch as Northwestern’s Carissa Hernandez (middle) extends for the catch Saturday at the Demon Diamond. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
League-leading Southeastern pulled out three late-game rallies to outlast the young Northwestern State team in a three-game Southland Conference softball series at the Demon Diamond, winning Friday’s doubleheader 4-3 and 7-5 in extra innings before a seven-run sixth inning broke open a one-run battle Saturday.
In Saturday’s Cypress Trophy series finale, the Lady Lions (26-8 overall, 8-1 SLC) sprayed 14 singles in a 9-1 run-rule victory over the Demons (3-27, 0-9), the nation’s youngest Division I team.
A seven-run, seven-hit barrage in the sixth by SLU, an NCAA Tournament team with 47 wins last season, turned a close game into a one-sided final score.
In Friday’s series opener, NSU got a two-run single from Aly Delafield – who delivered six hits in the series – in the bottom of the sixth to carry a 3-2 edge just three outs from a massive upset. Southeastern’s Maria Detillier spoiled it when she drilled a two-run homer in the top of the seventh and the Demons couldn’t rally in their last at-bat.
In the nightcap. Northwestern recovered from a 5-1 deficit to force extra innings, drawing even on DJ Lynch’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth. Neither team threatened in the seventh but SLU posted a pair of eighth-inning runs and stymied the Demons in their last chance.
NSU continues its four-game homestand on Tuesday against Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m. before a weekend SLC series starting Friday at East Texas A&M, the team closest to the Demons in the SLC standings.
TENNIS AT LAMAR TODAY: In Beaumont, Texas, today at 11 a.m., the Lady Demons (5-6, 5-0 SLC) aim to maintain their undefeated conference record against Lamar (3-13, 0-3) following a commanding 6-1 victory Saturday in San Antonio over Incarnate Word.
“It’s a process that began in the fall, emphasizing control over what we can manage,” said second-year NSU coach Marcos Morelli. “We focus on learning from each other and continuously improving with every match.”
At UIW, the team secured the doubles point with decisive wins, particularly from the pairing of Ayu Ishibashi and Sofi Garcia, who dominated their match 6-1.
In singles, the Lady Demons were highlighted by exceptional performances from Zoi Spyrou and Tjasa Klevisar, who both earned convincing straight-set wins.
TRACK & FIELD SHINES IN OUTDOOR OPENER: In Baton Rouge at LSU’s Lurline Hamilton Invitational, Northwestern track and field competitors posted a long list of personal bests and that included Maygan Shaw, who ran a personal-best 52.33 in her signature event, the 400-meter dash. She won the event and NSU had five of the top seven finishers.
On the men’s side, Galen Loyd continued a sensational 2025, as he opened the outdoor campaign by clocking a personal-best 46.94 to finish first out of 17 competitors in the 400, one of four Demons in the top nine.
“Overall, it was a very good meet,” NSU coach Mike Heimerman said. “I am very happy with today’s outcome.
“It was a first time for a lot of people who put the uniform on and it was a beautiful day outside and the athletes took advantage. I’m very pleased with the group and I’m looking forward to the meets next week in Austin and San Marcos. Everyone is excited for this outdoor season, and we are looking forward to it.”
The NSU athletes will compete at the Texas Relays and at Texas State during spring break week back home.
The city of Natchitoches is set to host a special screening of the film “Batter’s Box,” directed by Vincent Perry, on Saturday, March 22. The event will take place at Magale Hall within the Northwestern State University (NSU) Performing Arts Theater. Doors will open at 1:15 p.m., with the movie scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
General admission is priced at $10 for adults and $8 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the venue on the day of the event.
“Batter’s Box” tells the story of a father and son’s shared aspirations in baseball, challenged by corrupt authority figures who misuse their power. The narrative explores themes of perseverance and faith in the face of adversity.
The film holds special significance for the Natchitoches community, as it features local actress Ingrid Davis Fields in a prominent role. Fields, a Natchitoches native, began her acting career in gospel stage plays and has since transitioned to film, bringing authenticity and emotional depth to her performances.
For more details about the event and the film, visit Perry Productions LLC’s official website at www.PerryProductionsLLC.com.
NSU softball’s freshman shortstop Camryn Becnel makes a play in a recent home game. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
The Northwestern softball team’s two-week test against the top two teams in the Southland Conference continues this weekend at home with the sixth installment of the battle for the Cypress Trophy.
The Demons (3-24, 0-6) coming off a road series at McNeese this past weekend, will host Southeastern (23-8, 5-1), the current leaders in the conference standings, in a three-game series starting with a doubleheader this afternoon at the Demon Diamond.
First pitch is set for 4 p.m. for the twinbill. Saturday’s single game is set for a 12 p.m. start. Tickets for the games can be purchased by visiting nsutickets.com, with prices starting at just $10 for general admission seating.
The defending conference champion Lady Lions make their way to Natchitoches as the winners of the past three consecutive Cypress Trophy series between the two teams. It is the longest one team has held the trophy since its inception in 2019.
Named for the bald cypress, the official state tree of Louisiana, that dot the landscape between the state’s oldest settlement (Natchitoches) and its strawberry capital (Hammond), the trophy has been presented to the winner of the season series between the two teams every year, save for the 2020 COVID-canceled year.
“Tt’s really cool with me being a new head coach to learn the inner workings of the Southland and about all these rivalries and where they come from,” NSU coach Jenny Fuller said. “And especially having this be an in-state rivalry, that just makes it that much more fun.”
The Lady Lions have held the trophy under the guidance of head coach Rick Fremin who has turned Southeastern into a regional powerhouse program that nearly made its way to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2024.
“They’re going to pitch well, run well, play defense well and hit well,” Fuller said. “So, I’m excited to play them. They’re a team that I watched on TV last year in those regional games, so I know that they’re really good and they’re going to be well rounded.
“This week we’ve just been trying to get ready for them and what they like to do. They’re going to steal, bunt, pitch really well and we’re just doing our best to get ready for that.”
The Lady Lions lead the country with 108 stolen bases this season and finished in the top five in the nation in the category each of the previous four seasons.
Their speed and base running ability are designed to apply pressure to defenses with every pitch, an aspect that has been a focal point for the Demons this week and all spring.
“Defense has always been a thing of mine,” Fuller said. “I love defense, probably because I was a pitcher. We do put a big emphasis on defense within our program and that we have to do our job when it’s our time to do our job. I think that the pitchers know that the defense has their back and if SLU hits it, we can make plays behind them.”
TENNIS: Unbeaten in Southland Conference play, the Lady Demons (4-6 overall, 4-0 in SLC competition) carry the league lead to San Antonio for a Saturday visit to UIW (3-8 overall, 1-2 SLC) and a Monday match at Lamar (2-8, 0-2).
BASEBALL: The longest road trip of the season thus far for Northwestern has started on the right foot as a Southland Conference series approaches.
The Demons cap their seven-game road swing with a three-game Southland Conference series at New Orleans that begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight at UNO’s Ron Maestri Field. The series also includes afternoon games on Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
All three games will air on ESPN+ with free streaming audio available through http://www.NSUDemons.com and the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for all Apple and Android devices.
The Demons (12-8, 5-4) have recovered from a three-game sweep at Southeastern Louisiana beginning conference play to sweep UIW and take two of three from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the last two SLC series.
Northwestern added a 12-9 win at Grambling on Tuesday night – one that stood in direct opposition to how the Demons captured the series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
In that series, Northwestern pitched to a 2.08 ERA – their second straight SLC series with a sub-3.00 ERA.
That streak will be put to the test against a New Orleans (11-8, 5-4) team that is hitting .321 and averaging 8.1 runs per game. Coupled with a ballpark that is among the most weather-affected in the league, the Demons could be in for a weekend of differing environments.
TRACK AND FIELD: The outdoor season begins for NSU Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium with the Lurline Hamilton Invitational. Field events start at 10:30 in Baton Rouge, with running beginning at 1.
The Lady Demons won their third straight Southland Conference Indoor championship and are the reigning SLC Outdoor champions.
Next week, NSU competes at the Texas Relays in Austin.
Zhane Thompson sank three 3-pointers in the third quarter to draw Northwestern to within 10, but Abilene Christian responded to eliminate the visiting Demons from the WNIT Thursday night. (File photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
ABILENE, Texas – Hit by a run of 17 unanswered first-period points, the Northwestern State women’s basketball team’s postseason ended quickly with an 86-59 loss on the road Thursday evening to Abilene Christian in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
The Demons (16-16) started quickly, but ACU mounted a 17-0 first quarter run which pushed the game to a double-digit Wildcats (21-12) lead and Northwestern never recovered.
“I thought the entire group played incredibly hard tonight,” fifth-year NSU coach Anna Nimz said. “I believe the girls stepped up and did their best. Give credit to ACU. They are a great team with excellent perimeter shooters.”
The Demons began with back-to-back 3-pointers from Sharna Ayres sparked an 8-2 early run from the visitors to go in front 10-6.
But the Wildcats dominated the rest of the half, scoring the next 17 points and ending the quarter on a 24-4 run to lead 30-14 after the first quarter.
Erin Woodson scored 11 of her game-high 21 points during the run to ACU never let up from there.
In that first quarter, ACU shot 12-of-22 overall and made nine of its final 10 shots and eight straight at one point, including each of its final four 3-point attempts.
The middle two quarters were played to a near draw and either the Demons cut into the deficit by three. Northwestern went on a 9-0 run bridging the second and third quarters, including back-to-back triples from Zhane Thompson and Ayres to cut it the deficit to 44-34, but that was as close as the Demons made it before the Wildcats scored seven straight to regain a commanding lead.
The Wildcats used a 22-8 final period advantage to make the score a bit deceiving.
ACU shot 46.2 percent, including 9-of-22 from deep, compared to Northwestern’s 36.7 percent and 8-of-32 on 3-pointers.
The Wildcats made 17-of-20 free throws.
Three Demons reached double figures, led by Sharna Ayres and Mya Blake, who each scored 14. Vernell Atamah scored 11 points on just seven shots, while Thompson recorded nine points on three made triples.
“I am proud of our group and proud of their season,” Nimz said. “I am excited for our future.
“Thank you Demonland for all of your support this season.”
“Leadership in the Age of AI” L-R: Dr. Julian Bailes, Dr. Neilank Jha, Monty Chicola and James T. Genovese
That quote from Monty Chicola, founder of Real Vision Software and visiting scholar at NSU, aptly summarized some of the remarkable progress being made in building the university’s future. From three world class speakers to the announcement of Northwestern State University’s fourth endowed chair professorship, it was a great evening to be an NSU Demon as the University hosted a “Leadership in the Age of AI” forum before a full house at NSU’s Magale Hall Wednesday, March 19.
The evening began with the recognition of the Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies. This will be NSU’s fourth endowed chair and marks a major milestone in the university’s growth and reach. The endowed chair is named in honor of Lola Walker Dunahoe, a life-long and tireless supporter of her family, community and university. A generous gift of $600,000.00 from the Dunahoe family made the endowment possible. Neurosurgeon Dr. Neilank Jha will serve as the endowed chair’s Distinguished Professor in Leadership and Neuroeconomics.
The night’s event also served as the inaugural Lola Walker Dunahoe and Family Distinguished Lecture, which will become a yearly event bringing notable leaders, scholars and similarly accomplished people to share their insights with the NSU Community.
All three of the forum’s presenters spoke on various aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The first, NSU alumni Monty Chicola, is the founder of Real Vision Software, a firm in Alexandria. Mr. Chicola spoke of discovering his love of computer science while a student at NSU where he also played in the Spirit of Northwestern Band and of how a 1984 digitizing of a photograph of his daughter led to the creation of his company and a successful collaboration with IBM. He also spoke about AI’s growing influence on business and other aspects of our lives. Mr. Chicola is a visiting scholar at NSU, teaching courses for IBM.
NSU alumni and world renowned Neurosurgeon, Dr. Julian Bailes, was the night’s second speaker. He gave a talk on his research into concussions and CTE in athletes, particularly football players. He then segued into the uses of AI in brain surgery and the practice of medicine.
Dr. Neilank Jha closed the evening with an eclectic presentation reminiscent of a TED Talk. In a wide ranging talk that served as a portent of what promises to become popular courses under his upcoming professorship, Dr. Jha spoke of AI affecting everything from tourism to community development. Originally from Ontario, he also spoke of his upbringing, playing hockey, a period of time living in India, and of working with sports teams as a physician.
Join Marvin for a discussion regarding the 2025 Proposed Constitutional Amendments in the State of Louisiana appearing on the ballot this March 29, 2025.
* A Copy of the Proposed Constitutional Amendments is attached to this Podcast.
Special thanks to Rodney & Eddie Harrington, Lance Lopez – Farm Bureau, Sharpco Hotel Group and Pat Johnson.
Senior Jasmin Dixon, fifth in program history with 147 career blocked shots, has helped the NSU women’s basketball team reach postseason play tonight. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
ABILENE, Texas — For the first time since the 2015-16 season, postseason competition is happening for the Northwestern State women’s basketball team.
The Demons (16-15) visit Abilene Christian for a battle with the Wildcats this evening in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Tip off is at 6 p.m. and the contest can be viewed on ESPN+.
“It’s a little surreal,” NSU coach Anna Nimz said. “When you’re growing up and you’re a hooper and love basketball, you always aspire to do this as a player to play in the postseason and as a coach, this is your goal your entire career. When we got that call that we’d been selected, it was a little surreal. To get to keep playing is such a blessing.”
ACU (20-12) is making its first postseason appearance since 2021 in a season that has been its best since 2019, when the schools were Southland Conference rivals. In those eight seasons, ACU held a 6-2 series lead including a 4-0 mark in Abilene. The Wildcats were fourth in the Western Athletic Conference this season.
“(ACU) is a very successful team in the WAC,” Nimz said. “(ACU head) coach (Julie) Goodenough does an incredible job with her program. They are incredibly disciplined and tremendous 3-point shooters and 50-50 kids.
“There are a few teams in our conference they play similarly to in the realm of shooting and capability from the 3-point line and they run a lot of action that we’ve seen. We just have to come out and compete.”
This is the fifth trip all-time to the WNIT for Northwestern and first since 1999, a 78-60 loss at eventual tourney champion Arkansas to cap a 22-7 season.
However, the Demons have had plenty of success in the tournament before.
Northwestern beat Duke to reach the 1986 WNIT championship game in what used to be an eight-team field and went 2-1 in the 1995 edition, including a win over Marquette.
This appearance culminates a major turnaround for NSU, with its first winning record since that 2015-16 campaign. Nimz has led the team from one win in her first season to 16 wins and counting this season.
Seniors Sharna Ayres and Jasmin Dixon joined Nimz following her first season and have been instrumental in the Demons’ rise. Both players rank in the top five in program history in major categories. Ayres is fourth in program history in 3-pointers made (202), while Dixon (147) is fifth in school history for career blocks.
“I was pretty shocked when I got the call that we were going to the postseason,” Ayres said. “I was ready to hang up the shoes, but when I got that call, it felt like a second chance for us. We didn’t end it the way we wanted to, so I feel like this was the best option for us.”
Northwestern owns the Southland’s top rebounds per game rate at 41.3, 16th in the nation. Its rebound margin is +5.2, ranking second in the league.
While shooting just 30 percent from long range, the Demons have set the program record for 3-pointers in a season with 215. Senior point guard Mya Blake is scoring a conference-best 18.2 points per game while shooting 42 percent overall and 36 percent from deep. Blake’s 4.0 assists per game are second-most in the Southland.
Freshman Vernell Atamah averages 14 points while bringing down a team-best 6.9 boards per game. Atamah’s scoring and rebounding each rank seventh in the league, and her 77.9 percent free throw clip is fifth.
Blake was the Southland Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-SLC pick. Atamah was the conference Freshman of the Year.
Ayres scores 10.8 points per game and has combined with Blake to hit 135 three-pointers this season. On the glass, Dixon averages 5.6 rebounds alongside 1.5 blocks per game, third in the Southland.
The long ball will be a major deciding factor in the game, as both teams want to put it up from deep. ACU has made 249 3-pointers and attempted 813. Five Wildcats players have put up at least 100 3-point attempts.
The winner of tonight’s contest goes to Central Arkansas Monday at 6:30 in the second round.
Dr. Neilank Jha (left) and Natchitoches native Dr. Julian Bailes (right) answer questions during the Q&A session of Wednesday’s seminar on sports science presented to NSU student-athletes, coaches, staff and high school coaches. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
A successful athletic career requires much more than productive practices, strength and conditioning training, and superior performance in competition.
Wednesday at Northwestern State’s Magale Recital Hall, two renowned neurosurgeons engaged NSU student-athletes and others in discussing a more broad dimension to athletic success and good health during and after their competitive careers. The forum launched a partnership with the university enabled by the recently announced Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair.
About 300 Northwestern student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff took in a comprehensive but fast-moving dialog on sports science in a presentation that was also attended by some area high school coaches and medical professionals.
Dr. Julian Bailes, a Natchitoches native and a member of the Long Purple Line, NSU’s Alumni Hall of Distinction, and Dr. Neilank Jha provided compelling information to the midday audience on the university campus.
Bailes, a foremost expert on concussions, focused on brain health. His work was pivotal in the NFL grudgingly adopting reforms in concussion recognition and prevention, resulting in a recent marked drop in concussion rates. Bailes has also been influential as a consultant for the NCAA and as the medical advisor for Pop Warner Football for youth.
His struggle to get the NFL to acknowledge and confront concussion issues resulted in the 2015 major motion picture Concussion, with Alec Baldwin playing Bailes and Will Smith taking the role of Bailes’ associate Dr. Bennet Omalu.
Jha, who calls Bailes his mentor, provided extensive information about related topics including nutrition, motivation, strength training, supplement management, converting their college experiences into postgraduate success, and even best sleep practices to assist in athletes’ development and reduce concussion potential.
“It was important to talk to the student-athletes about concussion management,” Jha said. “Their brain is for the rest of their lives. Their sports career is short. Only two percent of NCAA athletes are going to go onto professional sports, while the other 98 percent are going to go into careers in the community.
“We were trying to give some guidance today and how they can leverage their experience as student-athletes to be successful in the community.”
Jha used motivational advice from seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady, and explained routines that have keyed the remarkable longevity of Brady and all-time NBA scoring champion Lebron James. Jha explained those athletes’ emphasis on nutrition, training and restorative sleep practices in an hour-long presentation followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with an attentive audience.
Bailes’ work has been a major contributor to the rise of the awareness of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) cases resulting from brain injuries, most often concussions. Arguably the most prominent case involved former Pittsburgh Steelers great Mike Webster, who was the anchor of the offensive line on the great Steelers teams of the 1970s. Bailes was a Steelers’ team doctor for several years when Bill Cowher was the head coach, while Webster’s cognitive ability eroded after his retirement as a player. Webster, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, died at age 50.
Bailes’ research and advocacy has helped coaches, administrators and athletes become more aware of need for reforms to reduce head trauma. He noted that women’s soccer players have an even higher rate of concussions than football athletes.
“Teaching about concussions is so important because it is your brain and it’s an injury you can’t see,” Bailes said. “There’s no swelling, there’s no bleeding, but it is probably the most important sports medicine injury and has potentially, in a minority of players, long-term effects. If managed correctly and managed conservatively, a concussion will heal and there shouldn’t be any long-term effects.”
Dozens of NSU student-athletes visited with Jha afterward, and the entire football team and other athletes returned to hear an evening presentation by Bailes, Jha and another Long Purple Line member, artificial intelligence trailblazer Monty Chicola, on “Leadership in the Age of AI” open to the public and well attended at Magale.
“The (lunchtime) lecture was very informative because, as an athlete, we need to know what the signs are to look for concussions are and how to recover our bodies as student-athletes, especially with all the time we take in school and in our sport,” soccer defender Isabella Queneau said.
“It takes me take more precautions on the field after hearing that with all the stuff that happens in soccer. I just have to make sure I am communicating with my trainers and my coaches how I’m doing mentally and physically and how my brain is working as well to make sure nothing dangerous comes out of it.”
Sleeping enough is one main item that gets overlooked, as football linebacker Danny Sears admits.
“The first thing I learned (today) is that I need to work on my sleep,” Sears said. “I am pretty bad at that and that is a good way to try to prevent concussions. If you get the right amount of sleep and nutrition plays a huge part in that. Being a student-athlete, doing those things is part of my job.”
Bailes and Jha stressed the rise of artificial intelligence as a transformative element in society – and in sports.
“AI can actually give you the data whether you should go for it on 4th-and-2 or you should punt the ball,” Jha said. “It can help with training, as well as determine the athletic movements the players have are at risk for injury or if they need to adjust the movements to be more efficient. AI can also help the fan experience in the stadium. There are so many applications of AI all the way from student-athlete to coach to the fan experience that we can adopt at NSU.”
During the question-and-answer segment, the thoughtful inquiries from the audience impressed Bailes and Jha.
“The student-athletes had a lot of good questions and I believe were really into it,” Bailes said. “They seemed to have a baseline knowledge, which 10 or 15 years ago wasn’t the case.”
Louisiana Sixth District Congressman Cleo Fields held a town hall meeting before a standing room only crowd at the city council chambers Tuesday, March 18. The meeting was one of several the Congressman is holding throughout his district during the month of March. Fields is returning to Congress after a reprise of almost 30 years.
After an introduction by Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, the State Champion Lakeview Girl’s Basketball team was recognized and presented with a commemorative proclamation by Congressman Fields.
Fields spoke about “What’s Happening in Congress?”, touching on possible cuts to Medicaid and the SNAP (Food Stamp) programs. He also addressed “What’s in the Budget?” in which the Congressman spoke of possible cuts to various governmental programs. The remainder of the program consisted of a question and answer session with the audience.
“Leadership in the age of Artificial Intelligence” is the theme tonight at 5:30 at the Magale Center, on the Campus of NSU, for a robust discussion of how students and business leaders can integrate artificial intelligence into their daily, personal and business lives.
NSU is becoming a leader in the AI space and will introduce Dr. Neilank Jha at this forum to outline his upcoming curriculum and course work at NSU for the fall Semester, 2025.
Monty Chicola will provide his thought provoking approach to integration of AI as a Board Member of IBM. Dr. Julian Bailes will discuss applications of AI in the medical arena and how AI is improving health outcomes.
TIME and LOCATION: 5:30 Magale Center on campus of NSU
Join us Saturday, March 22 for the Natchitoches Movie screening of Vincent Perry’s “Batter’s Box” spotlighting Ingrid Davis Fields, a Natchitoches Native.
Location: Magale Hall, NSU Performing Arts Theater Time: Doors open at 1:15pm, Movie starts at 2:00pm
The highly anticipated Leadership in the Age of AI forum at Northwestern State University is today at 5:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall on campus, providing basic and essential insight into the rapidly growing impact of artificial intelligence on our daily lives.
This free, public event will feature distinguished experts in AI, medicine and business, offering a unique opportunity to hear how AI is transforming society through its influence on leadership and countless industries.
Hosted under the leadership of President James Genovese, the event underscores NSU’s commitment to becoming a regional leader in artificial intelligence and innovation. The distinguished panel includes:
Dr. Julian Bailes – Renowned neurosurgeon and leading expert on brain health and sports-related injuries, the Natchitoches native will be discussing AI’s role in advancing medical research.
Dr. Neilank Jha – Neurosurgeon, behavioral economist, and newly appointed NSU Distinguished Professor in Leadership & Neuroeconomics, sharing insights on leadership through an interdisciplinary lens.
Monty Chicola – An Alexandria native, the founder of Real Vision Software is an NSU alumnus, and will examine AI-driven enterprise computing and its impact on business and industry.
The forum will provide valuable insights into AI applications in technology, healthcare and business, with practical discussions on how AI is being utilized today and what the future holds.
Why attend?
— Learn from world-class experts on AI’s impact across multiple fields.
— Engage in forward-thinking discussions about leadership in an AI-driven world.
— Discover how AI is already transforming industries such as medicine, transportation, government, insurance and manufacturing.
This event is part of NSU’s broader initiative to integrate AI education into its curriculum, including the development of AI driven programming and interdisciplinary leadership courses. The forum also follows the recent announcement of the Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair, aimed at attracting top talent in interdisciplinary studies.
“This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the real-world applications of artificial intelligence in leadership and industry,” Genovese said. “Attendees will gain valuable insights from highly accomplished, yet approachable experts.”
Magale Recital Hall is in the Creative and Performing Arts Annex next to A.A. Fredericks Auditorium at 143 Central Ave, Natchitoches, LA 71457.
For more information on Leadership in the Age of AI and to register for this free event, visit www.nsu.la/leadershipAI.
NSU standout Rocco Gump had two hits, including a home run, in Tuesday night’s win at Grambling. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, NSU Photographic Services)
GRAMBLING – If the Northwestern State baseball team were to split its 12-9 victory against Grambling in half, the Demons would find learning experiences in both.
Northwestern broke quickly against the Tigers, scoring in the first four innings at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park for a 10-1 lead, then hung on to grab its third win in the first four games of a seven-game road trip.
“What we told the guys was we felt like this one takes a certain level of maturity, and it takes a certain level of emotional stability to be able to process what took place,” second-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “There’s one side of us that has to be happy with a road win, has to be happy with the first road midweek win of the year. We have to be happy with scoring 12 runs. We have to be happy with doing some things offensively without two of our better offensive players (Reese Lipoma and Daniel Burroway).”
The Demons (12-8) built on a strong offensive end to their weekend series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by scoring five first-inning runs off Grambling starter Nick Robinson (0-3), who did not record an out.
Braden Benton’s two-out double highlighted an inning that also included the first three of 11 walks drawn by the Demon offense.
After Trey Bridges homered off Northwestern starter Kevin Robinson (4-0) in the bottom of the first, Rocco Gump answered with his third home run of the season in the second before a pair of freshmen pitchers maintained the Demons’ momentum.
Right-hander Wesley Marien and left-hander Jacob LeBlanc retired all six Tigers (7-12) they faced with a combined three strikeouts.
“The first three guys who took the mound did a really, really good job, and that’s the way you want to see it happen,” Bertrand said. “They were quick, they were efficient and they held the momentum on our side of the field, especially after we were able to get an early lead.”
Backed by those quick innings, the Demon lead expanded to nine with twin two-run innings in the third and fourth before the Tigers launched their comeback.
A two-out, fourth-inning rally that saw Grambling push across two runs shifted the momentum to the home dugout, and Tigers rarely let it go in the final five-plus innings.
Grambling scored in its final six at-bats, but the Demons were able to avoid the crooked numbers have plagued them in previous games.
Northwestern manufactured pivotal runs in the sixth and ninth innings.
In the sixth, Bryce Johnson reached on a pop-fly double and scored on a two-base passed ball. In the ninth, JD DiPrima doubled for his first hit of the season, stole third and scored on Samuel Stephenson’s one-out sacrifice fly.
Those runs allowed the Demons to stem the tide and pick up their eighth win in their past nine games.
Northwestern goes to New Orleans for a three-game Southland Conference series this weekend against UNO.
