NATCHITOCHES -- In a big weekend for the conference standings, the Northwestern State women's basketball team will host two Louisiana rivals starting with McNeese State on Thursday at 5:30 in Prather Coliseum on ESPN3.
 
The game is also NSU's "Play4Kay" game that is an initiative of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in the fight against breast cancer.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.
 
Both Northwestern State (12-9) and McNeese State (12-8) are tied at 5-4 in Southland Conference action, which places both teams at sixth place in the standings.
 
NSU will also host Nicholls (11-9, 6-3 SLC) on Saturday at 1:00 in Prather Coliseum.  The Colonels are at fourth place in the league standings.
 
"Our players are aware of the standings, but so much of our team is continuing to get better to put us in a great position," said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr.  "I think if we focus on that the little things then that will enable us to have good position in the standings.
 
"This is the time of season that is separation time and teams start to either put themselves in position or dig themselves a hole," she said.
 
The Lady Demons still have to face the five teams ahead of them, and have already faced three of those (Central Arkansas, Lamar, and Stephen F. Austin).
 
Northwestern State will look to continue it winning streak after it swept Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian, and has won eight of its nine games at home this season.
 
Three players have scored an average of double-figures this season, Keisha Lee (15.1 points per game), Trudy Armstead (14.2 ppg) and Janelle Perez (10.0 ppg).
 
The game will feature the reigning league freshman of the year, Perez who leads the Lady Demons in assists at 4.3 per game, and newcomer of the year, Cecilia Okoye who leads the Cowgirls in rebounds at 9.1 per game.  Kourtney Pennywell leads NSU in rebounds at 6.0 per game.
 
McNeese State has won three of its last five games, same as NSU, and has two players that average in double-figures.  Sophomore Allison Baggett averages 17.9 points a game and Okoye averages 12.2 a contest.
 
"McNeese is going to be a completely different look from last year," said Stoehr.  "They run some of the same things, but they are very young.
 
"They are going to spread us out and look to penetrate and then kick for 3-pointers. MSU's inside game is very active and Okoye does a great job of hitting the boards and can be very active in and around the paint," she said.
 
As a team, the Cowgirls average 66 points a contest and allow opponents to average 65 a game.  Northwestern State averages 64 points a game and allows opponents to get 65a contest.
 
Following the Nicholls State game, the Lady Demons will open a five-game road swing with Sam Houston State on Feb. 13 at 5:30.  The next NSU will play in Prather will be in the final two games of the year against Central Arkansas (March 6) and Oral Roberts (March 8).