NATCHITOCHES  -- Coming off its first loss of the season Sunday, the Northwestern State women's basketball team jumps right back into action Tuesday night at 6:30 when it hosts LSU-Alexandria in Prather Coliseum.
 
The quick turnaround is welcoming for third-year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr.
 
"I think it's great for this particular group," she said. "They were not pleased with the way they performed (Sunday) and several of them were in the gym getting shots up before our film review and preparation for LSU-A. This group wants to be successful, and I have no doubt they will respond from (Sunday's) game and be ready to compete Tuesday night."
 
Despite suffering a 78-30 loss to Arkansas on Sunday, Stoehr saw some improvement from the Lady Demons (2-1).
 
Northwestern State has played solid defense in all three games this season, holding opponents to a combined 33-percent shooting mark.
 
Against Arkansas, NSU posted a season-best 14 offensive rebounds, almost tripling its total from a 69-57 victory against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 18. It was part of an improved all-around effort on the boards that drew praise from Stoehr.
 
"I saw an improvement and focus on the defensive boards by all five players, and that was an improvement from the previous game," she said. "As the season continues, I think we will figure out which lineups give us the most activity and production on both ends of the floor. Hopefully, we can continue to rely on not allowing our opponents easy touches and looks from defensive breakdowns. There is much to be improved upon from the defensive side of the ball, but I do feel like we're getting good effort and energy for the most part."
 
The NSU defense welcomes an LSU-A squad that fell to McNeese State, 79-70, in its last outing. The Generals are a first-year program coached by former Northwestern State assistant Bob Austin.
 
Precious Jefferson leads the Generals (0-2) in scoring (15 points per game) and rebounding (9 per game). Taylor and Reagan Maricle average 12 and 10.5 points per game, respectively, giving LSU-A three double-figure scorers.
 
Amy Staha leads the Lady Demons in scoring with a 12.3 average, while TaSheena Moore paces NSU with 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
This marks the fourth straight game NSU has played a team with a first-year head coach. LSU-A has played four total games – including exhibitions – giving Stoehr and her coaching staff a little more information with which to work.
 
"It helps us in terms of preparation from our coaching staff's standpoint," she said. "We have a good game plan in place and have conveyed that to our team. It's easier than having to play a first-year coach the opening game of the season and not really knowing what to expect from the team and its system. Bob is doing a great job with his program. His team is playing hard for him and getting better each game. They led at McNeese and really played well.
 
"We will have to play well for 40 minutes and execute our game plan in order to come out on top Tuesday night."