NATCHITOCHES – Almost one year ago, the Northwestern State women's basketball team etched its name in the NCAA record books for its performance against Central Baptist.
 
The Lady Demons racked up 34 steals -- seventh-most in NCAA Division I single-game history -- and defeated the visiting Mustangs by 65 points.
 
When Central Baptist returns to Prather Coliseum for Friday's 1 p.m. matchup with Northwestern State, the Mustangs will look the same from a uniform standpoint, but that may be the only similarity from a season ago.
 
"They've done a great job of getting better in all phases," third-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said of the Mustangs. "They score it better. They defend a lot better. They have much more depth. This is a much-improved CBC team. It will be a challenge, and we've emphasized that in practice."
 
Friday's game can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL and the Demon Sports Network or through streaming audio available on www.NSUDemons.com or through the new Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded through the Apple Store and Google Play. Tony Taglavore, in his 11^th season, will handle the play-by-play call of the game.
 
After winning 11 games total in the 2017-18 season, Central Baptist (9-1) nearly has matched that total through the first month and a half of the 2018-19 season. The Mustangs' lone loss has come against the No. 5 team in NAIA, Freed-Hardeman.
 
Central Baptist has won six straight games and played Southland Conference member Central Arkansas to a 55-34 decision in an early-season exhibition game.
 
Similar to the Mustangs, Northwestern State (4-5) has shown improvement from the beginning of the season.
 
NSU opened the season with a 45-point loss at Arkansas. In its most recent game, a matchup with Southeastern Conference foe Alabama, the Lady Demons fell behind by 13 after the first quarter but answered with a 14-2 run to start the second quarter and had a chance to take the lead.
 
The Lady Demons eventually fell by 14 to the Crimson Tide but forced Alabama into 25 turnovers, allowing Northwestern State to remain No. 1 nationally in forcing turnovers per game at 27.78.
 
That identity has taken hold throughout the NSU roster.
 
"We're slowly finding out who we are and who we're going to become," Dupuy said. "We're taking to the identity of turning people over, flying around. Because of the way we're playing, we're going to give up some easy layups and an open 3 or two, but we're going to wear people down, get out of their stuff and make them uncomfortable."
 
The Lady Demons also are growing comfortable doing less. In the past two games, no Lady Demon has played more than 24 minutes.
 
All 12 Lady Demons who have played this season average at least 10.7 minutes per game. That depth showed at Alabama.
 
"We have a team where anyone can step up and give us good minutes," Dupuy said. "Lacee (Savage) at Alabama gave us unbelievable minutes. She had a great block that got us going and a great up-and-under. She ran the floor. Jasmyn (Johnson) ran the floor and got early offense. Our point guards are doing a great job pushing off either a make or a miss.
 
"We're implementing the style we want to play. It's a fun style, one I hope we continue to play."