NATCHITOCHES— Coming off a huge win in which Jasmine Upchurch scored 19 points and 10 rebounds, the Northwestern State women's basketball team will take on Lamar at 1 o'clock on Saturday in Prather Coliseum. 

Freshman Janelle Perez hit a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds to play that lifted NSU (5-6, 1-0) over the preseason Southland Conference favorite and two-time defending champion McNeese State 64-62 Thursday night. 

Lamar (8-3, 1-0) beat Stephen F. Austin 65-50 Thursday led by the conference's third leading scorer Kalis Loyd who had a season-high 28 points. 

“Lamar has one of the best players in the league in Kalis Loyd,” said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr.  “She's a bigger perimeter player who can shoot the three, put it on the floor, or take it inside and post you up.

“Coach (Larry) Tidwell has always done a great job and we know he'll be prepared,” she said. “They're going to compete and will pose some problems with their size and their length, but I feel like it's another opportunity to go out, get better, and compete for a Southland Conference win.” 

Upchurch leads the Lady Demons with 11.4 points a game followed by Perez with 10.1 a contest. Keisha Lee, who scored 16 against MSU, is third with 7.5. 

For the Lady Cardinals, Loyd averages 18 points a game followed by Carenn Baylor with 8.2 and Gia Ayers with 7.4 a contest.

The Lady Demons open a three-game road swing Monday when the play Sam Houston followed by Oral Roberts on Thursday.  NSU will return home Jan. 17 to take on Nicholls State in a Southland Conference Television game.