Lady Demon Basketball | 11/21/2017 11:34:00 AM

NATCHITOCHES – Thanksgiving week conjures up thoughts of food and family.
 
For the Northwestern State women's basketball team, there is one important piece of business remaining before carving the turkey.
 
The Lady Demons host LSU-Alexandria at 11 a.m. Wednesday before breaking to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families. The game can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches and via streaming audio on www.NSUDemons.com. Tony Taglavore, in his 10^th season, will handle the call of the game.
 
"With it being the day before Thanksgiving, we've already had the talk that we can't start eating turkey until the game's done," second-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. "In other words, we can't mentally check out until the job is finished. Our preparation has to be as good as it was for Oklahoma State, even though that outcome wasn't good. When the final horn goes off, then we can start the holiday."
 
The early start is not new territory for the Lady Demons (2-2), who will play an 11 a.m. for the sixth straight season.
 
Some of those games have been regular-season affairs while others have come in the Southland Conference Tournament. Regardless of the when and where, Northwestern State has a plan for the earlier-than-usual tipoff.
 
"We made sure we've practiced at that time the past couple of days," Dupuy said. "It allows their bodies to get used to playing at that time, and hopefully, it won't be a huge adjustment for us. When the ball's thrown up, no matter what time it is, you have to e ready to play."
 
The Lady Demons have won their first two home games of the season while dropping a pair on the road.
 
In Sunday's 78-44 loss at Oklahoma State, the Lady Demons took another step forward in terms of health. Nautica Grant became the final member of NSU's five-player newcomer class to appear this season, making her debut after an ankle injury sidelined her for the first three games.
 
"That's been the biggest issue, getting in a rhythm," Dupuy said. "When I say rhythm, it's not just a game rhythm. It's in practice. We have had people who can only do certain things at certain times during practice. It's been tough, but hopefully we'll have all the pieces back by the end of the month."
 
Wednesday's matchup marks the fourth straight season the Lady Demons have hosted LSU-Alexandria (0-1), which is coached by former Lady Demon assistant coach Bob Austin.
 
The Generals are playing the game as an exhibition as they have in five of their first six games. LSU-A has faced UL Lafayette, Southeastern Louisiana, Sam Houston State, Louisiana Tech and McNeese in exhibition games through the first three-plus weeks of its season.
In its lone non-exhibition game, LSU-A dropped an 84-68 decision to Xavier-New Orleans.
 
NSU has won each of its three previous games against LSU-A by at least 21 points, a fact that means little to Dupuy.
 
"I don't want to take anyone lightly," he said. "Whether it's LSU-A or Oklahoma State, we are going to prepare the same way. We need to be ready to execute a game plan for 40 minutes. That's something we haven't done this year."