Box Score HOUSTON- The Northwestern State women's basketball team, led by Keisha Lee's career-high 18 points, defeated Texas-Pan American 63-53 Friday afternoon in the Houston David Jones Classic.

NSU(4-1) will continue play in the tournament Saturday at noon when the Lady Demons take on the host Cougars. UTPA (2-4) will play Southeast Missouri.

Jasmine Upchurch (14) and Janelle Perez (12) also scored in double-figures leading Northwestern State (4-1) to its best start since 2005. For Upchurch, it was her third consecutive game with 10-plus points, and the second for Perez.

“I'm just really proud of our players, and whether we win or lose, our approach won't change,” said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr. “We're just trying to get better every day. We've got some young ladies that are stepping up and playing some big minutes, and I think that's our theme. We have to stay the course and grind it out.”

Lee came up big in the second half draining four of her eight field goals including a huge 3-pointer just two minutes in. She had 11 points in the half.

“Keisha 's focus and mental preparation has been really solid over the last couple of weeks,” said Stoehr. “She is playing with a lot of confidence, and is shooting the basketball at a very consistent rate.

Upchurch hit her first career 3-pointer with 4:06 to play to give NSU a 10 point lead that helped sustain the win.

“The three that Jasmine hit might have been one of the bigger plays,” said Stoehr.

“The shot clock was winding down, and she was getting a little antsy with ball,” she said. “We tell her to be patient, you're okay, and she fired it in there and knocked it down.”

After averaging over 21 turnovers a game, the Lady Demons took care of the ball and only gave it up 12 times. UTPA had 13 turnovers.

“I was really proud of the way we valued the basketball,” said Stoehr. “Anytime we can have 12 or fewer turnovers I am extremely pleased with it. With the way we've turned the ball over the last couple games, it was exciting to see.”

NSU held a 36-33 advantage in rebounds including 30 defensive rebounds limiting UTPA to eight second-chance points. Upchurch led all individuals in rebounds with eight in the game.

The difference in the game was Northwestern State hitting just under 43 percent from the field while the Broncs only scored 34 percent. The Lady Demons were 31 percent from behind the arc.

The Broncs' leading scorer Cassandra Moody scored the first points of the game on a jumper followed by two made free-throws from Lee.

Moody hit another jumper before Perez scored two layups to take over the lead. UTPA would never have the advantage again.

NSU worked up its biggest lead of 10 at the 3:35 mark in the first half, but UTPA put together a 9-2 run to only be down by three at the break. The largest lead of the game was 12 which occurred with less than a minute to play.