CONWAY, Ark. – The Northwestern State women's basketball team will try to extend its best Southland Conference road start since the 2009-10 season here Wednesday night.
 
Standing in its way is a team that, in several respects, looks very similar to the Lady Demons (12-7), who have won their first three conference road games and lead the conference race with a 7-1 mark. NSU won its first four Southland road games in 2009-10.
 
Central Arkansas (10-9, 3-4) and NSU are two of the most disciplined defensive teams in the conference, ranking first and second, respectively, in fewest personal fouls per game. Tipoff between NSU and UCA is set for 7 p.m.
 
"The last few games they've struggled to score at times," third-year co-head coach Brooke Stoehr said. "They've got a couple of players on the perimeter who can really score the basketball. They've tried to find their identity after losing (2013-14 Southland Conference Player of the Year) Courtney Duever in the post and have become more perimeter-oriented. They've got some very, very capable players on the perimeter who can score."
 
While the Sugar Bears rank 12th offensively in the conference, averaging 57.9 points per game, they feature one of the top 3-point threats in the Southland.
 
Maggie Proffitt leads UCA in scoring (12.7 points per game) and ranks second among Southland players in 3-pointers per game, making an average of 2.37 from behind the arc.
 
"In our zone, we've got to know where she is," Stoehr said. "We've got to find her in transition. They run a number of sets for her to get open looks. She's got a very quick release and is a very strong guard. She hurt us last year in our game there as far as hitting some big shots at big times. We've got to do a good job of locating her and not allowing her easy, open looks."
 
The Lady Demons have talented shooters around the perimeter, as Janelle Perez, Keisha Lee and Chelsea Rogers all are shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range in conference play.
 
Perez ranks third in league play, making 48.6 percent of her 3s, while Lee (45 percent, 6^th)and Rogers (40.7, 12^th) are among the league's top shooters.
 
Rogers leads the Lady Demons in 3-pointers per game, making 2.1 per game. She hit four 3s in Saturday's 75-54 win against McNeese State, moving her to within two of her 100^th career 3-point basket. Rogers set a career high with 27 points against the Cowgirls.
 
"It's very difficult to guard the ball one-on-one, but when you have three perimeter players that are all shooting above 40 percent from 3 – and two of them are shooting above 45 percent – that increases your spacing offensively," Stoehr said. "It allows for more openings, more driving lanes and opportunities. I think Chelsea did a great job of reading the defense and taking what they gave her Saturday."
 
The Farris Center atmosphere will provide a test of Northwestern State's veteran makeup. UCA is 6-2 at home this season and Conway has built a reputation as one of the league's tangible home-court advantages.
 
"If you look at what they've done at home over the last few years, they've been very tough to beat," Stoehr said. "We haven't won in the two years we've been here. It's really a tough task any time you go on the road. They're searching for a home win to boost their chances at the conference tournament, so it's going to be a tough task."
 
The Lady Demons conclude the two-game road swing Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana in the opener of a Southland Conference doubleheader. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. with the Northwestern State-SLU men's game to follow at 7:30 p.m.