Box Score

DALLAS – The frigid temperatures outside Southern Methodist's Moody Coliseum followed the Northwestern State Lady Demon basketball team into the arena as NSU shot a season-low 23.1 percent (15 of 65) from the floor in a 67-41 loss to the Mustangs on Monday night.

The shooting percentage was the lowest since making just 21.5 percent from the floor at Texas-Arlington in February of 2006 and the 41 points was the lowest point total since scoring 39 points in a loss to Louisiana-Monroe in December 2006.

The loss dropped the Lady Demons to 2-5 on the season while SMU snapped a three-game losing streak with the win and improved to 5-4 on the year.

Jordi James led NSU with 11 points and Ronikka Drake added 10 points as NSU scored just six points in the first 14 minutes of the second half after trailing 39-26 at the half.

“When you shoot 17 percent in the half, it's hard to win games,” said head coach Jennifer Graf.  “We had a lot of good looks at the basket, including a lot of open layups, but we couldn't get the ball in the basket.

“There were a lot of positives in the game,” said Graf.  “They (SMU) scored 17 points in the first four minutes of the game and then finished with 67.  I thought we did a good job defensively but it comes down to not making our shots.”

One of the positives was the 46-42 advantage the Lady Demons held in the rebounding margin.  NSU also forced 18 turnovers but only scored nine points off those miscues.

SMU had just one player score in double figures with Samant Mahnesmith leading the way with 15 points.  The Mustangs forced the Lady Demons into 26 turnovers and scored 24 points off those errors.

The Mustangs knocked down 25 of 60 from the field for 41.7 percent and hit 4 of 11 for 36 percent from 3-point range.

“We'll turn the page on this one and keep working hard to get better,” said Graf.  “It'll be great to get back home.”

The Lady Demons trailed 39-26 at the half but came on strong in the last 3:45 of the frame after hitting 3 of 5 from the field, including both shots from 3-point range.

James knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Demons a little momentum heading into the break.

NSU returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Wiley College at 2 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.