By Jonathan Zenk, Northwestern State Assistant Director of Communications; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES—The Northwestern State women’s basketball used a dominant second quarter to race past visiting Southern-New Orleans 80-45 on Tuesday evening at Prather Coliseum.
The Demons (3-4) outscored SUNO (3-7) 24-6 in the second frame to turn a close game after the first quarter into a one-sided affair.
“I am happy to come out with the win,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “I am happy to be playing in front of the home fans and it’s good to go into Thanksgiving with a win under our belt. There were a lot of correctable moments. We didn’t come out playing really well in the first and definitely not again in the third.
“I am excited to watch film and get to practice tomorrow. Although it was a good win, there are a lot of moments we kind of let go. We’ve got to continue to correct those to put us in position to have success in the Southland and that is what non-conference is about.”
Northwestern State shot 9-of-19 and rebounded four of its misses in the period, while holding the Knights to just 1-of-15 from the floor. The Demons also made seven free throws in eight attempts.
“It amped us up when we started to press,” Mya Blake said. “Even after we went back to the half court, our defense was more intense after we started to press. It got our momentum going, for sure.”
Vernell Atamah recorded nine of her game-high 20 points in the quarter, while Blake recorded four points, five assists and four rebounds.
Atamah, a freshman from Mesquite, Texas, has recorded four consecutive double figure scoring outputs, capped off by her season-best 20 points.
The Demons ended the first half on a 17-0 run and scored the first eight points of the second half to make it a 25-0 run.
“In the second, we challenged them again,” Nimz said. “We had game goals for what we wanted to accomplish, aside from a win, that we had discussed. I thought we did a good job in the second quarter and we proved when we’re locked in, we absolutely can get it done. That drove some energy and some offensive success/”
Atamah was one of three Demons to reach double figures in scoring, as she was joined by Sharna Ayres (19) and Blake (17).
Leading 43-16 after the first half, Northwestern State coasted from there.
Throughout the entire first quarter, SUNO stayed right with the Demons. The Knights connected on two of their four made 3-pointers in the first quarter, but the Demons led 17-12 following a 7-of-15 shooting quarter.
But then the Demons controlled the second quarter from start to finish and put the game away before halftime.
Blake flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds. She also added three steals of the 19 for the Demons on Tuesday, the second most this season.
Ayres nearly recorded a double-double, grabbing nine rebounds to go with her 18 points.
Skye Miller and Nia Hardison tied a season high with six and seven points, respectively.
Clarence Djuela blocked four shots of the nine total for the Demons, the most since also blocking nine in last year’s win over SUNO.
Northwestern State shot 43.8 percent overall, including 9-of-27 from deep.
The Demons forced 27 turnovers and turned them into 28 points and out-rebounded the Knights 51-36.
Jordan Harris was the only SUNO player to score in double figures, posting 12 points.
Northwestern State takes a week and a half long break before beginning Southland Conference play at UIW on Dec. 7. The Demons return to Prather Coliseum for their final non-conference home contest Dec. 14 against former SLC member Central Arkansas.