Box Score NATCHITOCHES – A combination of old standbys and new faces was a perfect match for the Northwestern State women's basketball team in their season opener Friday night.
 
Senior forward Presley Owens turned in the best offensive showing of her Lady Demons career, scoring 14 points to lead four NSU players in double figures in a 78-35 rout of visiting LeTourneau.
 
"We were all anticipating the start of the season, so it was good to face a different opponent," said third-year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr, who improved to 3-0 in season openers. "The players were tired of facing each other and ready to see someone different. Our team started with a lot of energy, really clamped down on the defensive end and were able to get some fast-break layups and execute offensively against their zone."
 
The Lady Demons (1-0) connected on 62 percent of their first-half shots in building a 45-16 halftime lead. NSU cooled slightly in the second half, making 50 percent from the field and finished 31 for 55 from the field (56.4 percent).
 
After a slow start, which saw the game tied at 5 for 2:03 of the early going, NSU turned up the defensive pressure and began to find the offensive execution Stoehr sought. After a Te'Andra Richardson jumper pulled LeTourneau to within 18-11 with 9:42 to play in the first half, the Lady Demons put together a 19-0 run in the next 6:54.
 
NSU's solid defense continued in the second half, allowing the Lady Demons to extend the lead to 43 points on an Owens layup and giving co-head coach Scott Stoehr a victory on his birthday.
 
Sophomore guard Amy Staha paced the outburst, scoring six of her career-best 13 points during the run. Staha and junior transfer TaSheena Moore each finished with 13 points, while Keisha Lee, the Lady Demons' leading returning scorer, gave NSU four double-figure scorers, finishing with 12 points.
 
Junior point guard Janelle Perez, who has averaged double figures scoring in each of her first two seasons, did not score but handed out eight assists while committing only one turnover.
 
"We've talked a lot in the preseason about our team and the guard depth we have and the ability to play a lot of people," Brooke Stoehr said. "A lot of those guards can score, and the more minutes we get them, the more opportunities their going to have, so it was good to see those newcomers and freshmen get their first real game experience in front of a crowd with the lights on."
 
NSU's newcomers didn't just provide a scoring boost. Freshman Tia Youngblood grabbed a game-high seven rebounds off the bench and registered NSU's lone blocked shot.
 
Owens, meanwhile, lent credence to Stoehr's preseason comments about her senior center's improved confidence. Owens, a 6-foot-1 forward, hit 6 of 10 shots and knocked down both of her free throws to tally an efficient 14 points.
 
"We've seen that from Presley, being able to finish in traffic," Brooke Stoehr said. "I've talked a lot about her consistency and her effort. She's always blocking out. She's always in the right spot, doing the things we need her to do. It was big for her to score over some bigger players inside and finish with her back to the basket. It was good for her confidence and also for our team."
 
The Lady Demons return to action Tuesday night at 6:30 as they host longtime rival Louisiana Tech, which makes its first Prather Coliseum appearance in 31 years.