NATCHITOCHES –The Northwestern State women's basketball team will continue on the back half of its non-conference season by looking for the program's 700^th win on Tuesday when it hosts Arkansas-Monticello in Prather Coliseum at 7 o'clock.
 
NSU (4-4) is coming in after two-straight losses, one at Arkansas and one at Louisiana Tech.   Arkansas-Monticello, who will count the game as an exhibition contest, has a 3-4 overall record.
 
The two programs have met seven times, and NSU holds a 6-1 advantage.  The first game came in 1974-75, and UAM took the contest at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Region Four Postseason Tournament.
 
Arkansas-Monticello is led in scoring by Jordan Goforth who averages just over 20 points a contest. Tamia Grady (16.9 points per game) and Nikki Mullen (12.6 ppg) also average in double-figures.
 
"They have a couple of really good athletes and will look to spread us out," said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr. "They'll run a little motion offense as well as some sets.  I think it's a great chance for us to really gain some confidence on the defensive end of the floor and really focus in on some things we've worked on."
 
As a team, the Cotton Blossoms average 77.3 points per contest, and allow 75.9 per game.  They shoot at a 46-percent clip from the field and average five made 3-pointers a contest.
 
"They'll show some zone, and hopefully we'll be able to knock down some shots," said Stoher. "It'll be good to get out and push transition some and get some experience for our young players."
 
Trudy Armstead continues to lead Northwestern State in scoring with 17 points a game, and Keisha Lee follows (15.7 ppg).  Armstead also leads the Lady Demons in rebounding with 6.8 boards a game.
 
As a team NSU averages 62 points a game and shoots 39-percent from the floor.
 
After UAM, Northwestern State will have three games left before the open of the 2013-14 Southland Conference schedule.  The Lady Demons will travel to Texas Friday to play the Longhorns, and then to San Antonio to play New Mexico State and North Dakota State in the UTSA Holiday Classic.
 
NSU will not return to Prather Coliseum until Jan. 2 when they open Southland Conference play with Sam Houston State at 5:30.