Box Score WICHITA, Kansas – Northwestern State senior guard Jordi James returned to the area where she grew up to lead the Lady Demons with 16 points, but the 10 ½ hour bus ride seemingly had an effect on the way NSU played as it dropped a 77-49 decision to Wichita State in the season opener.
 
James, the reigning Louisiana Newcomer of the Year and who is from nearby McPhearson, Kansas, just 50 miles north of Wichita, knocked down four field goals, one three-pointer, and hit 7 of 8 from the free throw line to pace the Lady Demons (0-1), but a 40-19 halftime hole was too much for NSU to overcome.
 
But despite the 28-point loss, the Lady Demons showed signs of what should be a very competitive and successful team. 
 
The Lady Demons forced the Shockers into 25 turnovers and had 16 steals – eight of those from sophomore guard Jasmine Bradley.
 
“We did a lot of good things defensively,” said eighth year head coach Jennifer Graf.  “I know we got outrebounded by nine (39-30), but once we put things together, we're really going to be a good team. 
 
“We did a great job of boxing out, but we never went for the ball,” she said.  “We had 11 or 12 steals in the first half and we forced them into a bunch of turnovers, but we really didn't take advantage of that.”
 
NSU scored just 17 points off of the Wichita State miscues.
 
Offensively, the Lady Demons connected on just 31 percent from the field (17 of 55) and hit only 1 of 9 from long range.
 
“We had a number of 2-on-1 breaks but just wasn't able to knock down the baskets,” said Graf.  “We just need to get our rhythm down better on the offensive end.” 
 
Wichita State (1-0), a participant in last year's Women's National Invitational Tournament who returned all five starters this season, was led by Jessica Diamond's 17 points.
 
WSU scored the game's first five points but Trudy Armstead, who finished with 12 points on 6 of 13 shooting, put the first points of the season on the board for NSU and followed that up with two more baskets.  A jumper by Bradley cut the deficit to 11-8 at the 14:59 mark of the first half before the Shockers rolled off an 8-0 run to go up 19-8 with 12:55 to go.
 
Armstead netted her eighth points of the game to cut the gap to 19-11 but WSU put together an 11-3 run to great the game open midway through the first half.
 
The second half was more evenly played as the Lady Demons were outscored by just a 37-30 margin but once WSU went up by 21 at 42-21 with 19:14 to play, NSU was never able to get the margin back under the 20-point range.
 
“We played everyone we dressed out,” said Graf.  “It was good to get our freshmen in there and get some minutes.
 
The Lady Demons return to action on Tuesday when they open the home slate against Centenary with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.