NORMAN, Oklahoma – Another road trip, another Power Five challenge for the Northwestern State women's basketball team.
 
Coming off a 100-40 thumping of visiting LeTourneau on Monday, the Lady Demons face their second Power Five conference opponent of the season, squaring off with Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lloyd Noble Center.
 
The game can be heard on 97.5 FM KDBH in Natchitoches and worldwide through streaming audio on www.NSUDemons.com or on the new Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which is available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play.
 
The game also will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma, which is available on select cable systems. Check local listings for availability of the game.
 
Northwestern State (1-1) has split its first two games of the season, falling to Arkansas, 98-53, in its season opener on Nov. 9 before routing LeTourneau by 60, the fifth-largest margin of victory in Lady Demons history.
 
"In the LeTourenau game, I hope we gained some confidence on both ends of the floor that will carry over against Oklahoma," third-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. "We executed well, shot well and played at the tempo we wanted. We will have to pick and choose our spots against the Sooners, but I want to see us compete for 40 minutes and give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter."
 
In its season opener, Northwestern State enjoyed a sizzling start from the field, hitting its first four shots. However, Arkansas matched the Lady Demons' start and was able to continue its hot shooting throughout the first half.
 
That matchup against the Razorbacks should pay dividends for the Lady Demons, who are playing the second of four games against Power Five opponents this season. NSU also will travel to Alabama (Dec. 16) and Texas (Dec. 29) in non-conference play.
 
Much like Arkansas, Oklahoma has shown the ability to score in bunches.
 
The Sooners (1-0) rung up 119 points in an exhibition win against Northeastern State on Nov. 5 and began its season with a 90-83 win against Western Kentucky on Nov. 9.
 
Shaina Pellington, the 2017-18 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, paced the Sooners with 33 points while freshman Taylor Robertson chipped in 24, hitting eight 3-pointers, against the Hilltoppers.
 
"OU will present a lot of the challenges we saw at Arkansas," Dupuy said. "Their ability to spread the floor, create off the dribble and shoot the 3 will present problems. They are also very deep as well. Playing in another hostile environment will go a long way to getting our team ready for a tough conference season."
 
The Lady Demons relied on their defense to spark their offensive uprising against LeTourneau, something Dupuy knows has to continue at home or away.
 
"We've got a lot of people who can make plays," he said. "They do it every single day in practice. When the defense picks up, it turns into offense on the other end. They know that. We need to take that with us and do it on the road."