BEAUMONT, Tex.  – After a three-game homestand in which Keisha Lee averaged 19 points a game, the Northwestern State women's basketball team will travel to Lamar on Thursday at 5:15 in Southland Conference action.
 
The two schools faced off on Jan. 5 and the Lady Cardinals (12-6, 5-3 SLC) took the game 71-68. The Lady Demons  (7-11, 3-5 SLC) made a 10-point comeback attempt with less than a minute to play, but fell just short.
 
“They're coming off of a tough week after making the Oral Roberts, UCA swing,” said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr. “Coach (Larry) Tidwell will have them ready to play.
 
“They are very talented, and have one of the best players in the league in Kalis Loyd,” she said.  “She's a very difficult matchup for a lot of people in the league.”
 
NSU finished its  homestand 2-1 with wins over Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana and a loss to Stephen F. Austin most recently.  Lamar is coming off of a 77-48 loss to Oral Roberts and 67-62-overtime drop to Central Arkansas.
 
“They will come out and defend us well.  They'll be long and athletic on the perimeter,” said Stoehr.  “We have to do a great job defensively, and have to do a great job on the boards.“
 
Lady Cardinal's Loyd leads the Southland Conference in scoring with 18.7 points a game. She scored 20 points in the first meeting between the programs.  Dominique Edwards, Lamar's leading rebounder (6.3 rpg), had a double-double against NSU with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Jasmine Upchurch leads the Lady Demons in scoring with 11.7 points a game. She scored 15 points in the early meeting, and was one of four players with a double-figure scoring game including Keisha Lee (15), Janelle Perez (14), and Jasmine Bradley (11).
 
Bradley also had a double-double with 11 rebounds.
 
The Lady Demons continue their road trip with McNeese on Sunday at 1:30.