Box Score JACKSON, Miss. --  Despite forcing a season-high 39 turnovers and leading by double figures in the second half, Northwestern State turned over the ball a season-high 29 times and lost 62-61 in overtime to Jackson State at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
"We talked about valuing the basketball over the last few days and not allowing their frenetic pace to dictate how we play the game, and we completely did," third-year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr said. "When you take 29 possessions away from your opportunity to score, you're not going to be very efficient offensively."
 
After Jackson State (3-7) jumped to a three-point lead in overtime, Amy Staha knocked a shot down from outside the perimeter to tie the game at 57 with just more than two minutes left. The Lady Tigers took a 61-57 lead before Tia Youngblood and Keisha Lee added back-to-back buckets underneath to tie the game 61.
 
With time winding down, Jackson State missed a jumper but grabbed the offensive rebound. The Lady Tigers' Bridget Robinson was fouled and knocked down one of two free throws, providing the one-point difference in the game.
 
NSU (5-5) opened the first half just 3-for-15 from the field while turning the ball over 10 times and trailed 16-10 with 7:19 left before halftime. The Lady Demons rallied behind a strong defensive presence and effective ball movement going on a 14-5 run and closing out the half up 24-21.
 
The Lady Demons did not hold their first lead of the game until Meghan Cross knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:14 left in the first half. Lee sunk a jumper with just 23 seconds left to put the NSU lead at three heading into the break. 
 
Chelsea Rogers added her first free throw opportunity of the season, as the senior knocked down 1-of-2. Opening the second half, Rogers sunk a 3-pointer early helping NSU to a 28-23 lead.
 
Cross snapped a 7-0 Lady Tigers run with a pair of free throws at 16:41 to go, as the squads remained tied at 30. With 11:51 remaining, Staha knocked down a 3 from the corner to put NSU up 37-34.
 
The Lady Demons turned defense into offense, as Perez stole the ball and drove down for a layup to give NSU a five point lead at 41-36 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Two consecutive Lee baskets and an drawn charge by Presley Owens gave the Lady Demons their largest lead at nine with 8:30 left.
 
Consecutive Jackson State 3-pointers cut the NSU lead to 49-45 before the Lady Demons responded. Rogers sunk a 3-pointer of her own to push the lead to 52-45 with 4:40 to go. Soon thereafter, a Beatrice Attura steal led to a Lee layup and NSU hung on to a 54-48 lead.
 
That lead fell away over the next 3:40 as the Lady Tigers went on a 6-0 run and the squads remained tied at 54 with one minute to play. Despite opportunities on both ends, neither could capitalize, sending the game to overtime.
 
Lee led all scorers with 18 points to go along with her eight steals while Janelle Perez and Cross added seven points each. Rogers grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lady Demons and Perez finished with four assists.
 
"You have no choice but to grow from it, learn from it and get better from it," Stoehr said. "Unfortunately, the situation was what it was today and we've got to be able to handle it. I thought our kids fought and battled at certain times through some very adverse situations."
 
Northwestern State will have a nine-day break over the holidays before continuing its four-game road swing at Oklahoma State on Dec. 29. Tip off between the Lady Demons and Cowgirls is slated for 7 o'clock.