NATCHITOCHES—After getting off to its best start since 2007, the Northwestern State women's basketball team will take on NAIA member Wiley College Tuesday at 7 o'clock in Prather Coliseum.
 
NSU (2-1) is coming off a 67-51 loss at Ole Miss in which the Lady Demons led for a majority of the first half.  Wiley (4-0) won 71-68 at Southland Conference member Stephen F. Austin Saturday in an exhibition match for the Wildcats.
 
“They are very athletic,” said first year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr.  “They like to push the basketball and like to play a little up-tempo.
 
“We've got to a great job of controlling tempo,” she said. “We are excited because they'll do some of the same stuff that Ole Miss did and that we struggled with.  I think this is a chance for us to come out and say this is what we worked on the last three days and let's see how we improved.”
 
Friday at Ole Miss the Lady Demons had 31 turnovers, but still held a fast-paced squad to 67 points.  The Rebels had previously beaten Southeastern Louisiana 95-85.
 
Jasmine Upchurch led Northwestern State with 13 points and five rebounds.  She is second in scoring average (9.3) behind Janelle Perez who averages 12.3 a game. 
 
Wiley forced SFA into 21 turnovers and shot 41 percent (29-70) from the field.  Porsha Roberts led the Wildcats with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Last season marked the first time NSU and Wiley played with the Lady Demons taking the victory 95-69.
 
The Lady Demons will travel to Houston Friday and Saturday to participate in the UH David Jones Classic.