SAN ANTONIO – Coming off of three straight double figure scoring games, Janelle Perez will lead the Northwestern State women's basketball team into the Texas-San Antonio Holiday Classic for two games in two days starting Saturday at noon.
 
The Lady Demons (5-5) will open the weekend with New Mexico State (3-8) at noon on Saturday and finish the weekend with North Dakota State (3-8) at the same time on Sunday.
 
"It's a great chance for us to play two neutral court games on the road," said second-year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr. "It is kind of odd that were going to a tournament and not playing the host, but it's something that we're excited about.  Going on the road and find a way to win."
 
NSU is enter the weekend after losing to Texas, 90-60, in its last game. Northwestern State jumped out to an early lead- as much as seven points- before UT's height advantage took over.
 
NSU averages 61.8 points per game and allows 65.9.  The Lady Demons are led in scoring by Keisha Lee who averages 15 points per game.  Trudy Armstead (13.8 ppg) and Perez (9.0 ppg) follow.
 
Perez has had three straight double-figure scoring games which is one away from tying the longest streak of her career.  Through that span, she has six assists, two steals, and four turnovers.
 
New Mexico State averages 69.2 points a contest and allows 73.7 a game. It enters the game on a five-game skid, most recently a loss at California State-Fullerton.
 
Vanessa Garner leads the Aggies in scoring, 12.4 points per game, and September Offutt is the top rebounder, 7.3 boards a game.
 
"New Mexico State is athletic, likes to get out and run, and push tempo," said Stoehr. "We'll have to do a good job defensively and not allow easy drives and layups."
 
North Dakota State has three players that average in double-digit scoring: Brooke Lemar (15.6 ppg), Marena Whittle (11.6 ppg), and Holly Johnson (11.2 ppg).  Whittle leads the Bison in rebounds with an average of 6.7 boards a game.
 
NDSU is on a four-game losing streak, the second four-game skid of its season.
 
"They have a point guard who can really distribute and score," said Brooke Stoehr. "They are well coached, play really hard, and do a good job."
 
It will be the first meeting between NSU and both programs. 
 
The Lady Demons will return to Prather Coliseum next to open Southland Conference play with Sam Houston on Jan. 2 and Lamar on Jan. 4.