By Jonathon Zenk, Northwestern State Assistant Director of Communications; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES—The night could not have gone much better for Northwestern State.
NSU (17-13, 14-8) earned its 14th Southland Conference win, its most conference wins since 2003-04, as the Demons pulled away in the second half for an 81-65 win over New Orleans (3-27, 3-19) at Prather Coliseum on Tuesday evening.
“I challenged them pretty hard at halftime,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “I think they responded and I think we did a better job. We had consistent scoring in all four quarters, which was a positive. Obviously, putting up 81 is a good thing and 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.”
In the win, Vernell 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 when I was doing my ESPN+ interview, 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 finishing just two shy of her career high, which she set against UIW.
With Nicholls’ victory over East Texas A&M earlier on Tuesday, the Demons face East Texas A&M in the first round of the conference tournament on Monday at 11 a.m.
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 moment 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.”
Despite finishing in last place in the Southland standings and not going to the conference tournament, the Privateers fought hard and hung around with NSU into the second half behind 23 points from Lauren Banks, who made a season-high five 3-pointers.
Going into the game, UNO was shooting under 22 percent from deep in league play but made 9-of-21 from behind the arc against a Demons defense that was first in the league at defending the arc.
Three minutes into the third period, Mikayla Johnson and Banks buried back-to-back 3-points to cut a Demons 10-point lead down to four, forcing NSU to call timeout.
From there, the Demons slowly grew the lead, starting with Atamah’s second triple out of the timeout.
A pair of Atamah free throws and triple from Nya Valentine pushed the lead to double figures, where it remained much of the rest of the way.
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.
NSU finished league play as the top offensive rebounding team, hauling down 14 per game.
After posting a career day in the first meeting with 22 points and 11 assists, Valentine nearly matched that with 20 points and nine assists in the game on Tuesday.
“When you have a floor general 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.”
The Demons have time off before heading to Lake Charles for the SLC Tournament at 11 a.m. against East Texas A&M. The teams split during the regular season with each team winning at home. 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 them 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.
“We have the ability to special, and now it’s time to go show it.”