NATCHITOCHES – For the second time this season Northwestern State won the rebounding battle in a game, not surprisingly leading to a 58-54 victory Wednesday evening.
The Lady Demons (5-11, 2-5) pulled in 50 rebounds in the game and won the battle on the glass by 12 as they dispatched Nicholls (4-12, 1-6) for a needed conference victory.
"It's huge that we were able to implement some things that we've been concentrating on but haven't been able to turn into a victory," fourth-year head coach
Jordan Dupuy said. "Tonight they came out with a victory.
"We've been preaching rebounding in practice and to come out and get 50 rebounds and outrebound them by 12 really proves my point. We had 21 offensive rebounds and we just have to make sure we carry it over into next week. Our intensity was there"
It was the
Kira Bonner and
Leilani Moncrease show for NSU through much of the opening quarter and the game. The duo combined for 14 of the Lady Demons' 19 points through the first 10 minutes of play and 37 of the 58 total.
Bonner drilled a 3-pointer, much like she did at McNeese, providing an early spark for the Lady Demons, evening the game a five through three minutes of action.
It wasn't until a long ball from
Jasmyn Johnson with 1:09 left in the first that someone other than Bonner or Moncrease converted a field goal. Moncrease closed her six-point opening quarter with a jumper half a minute after Johnson's 3-ball but the Lady Demons trailed 21-19 after one.
The second quarter would be one to forget for both teams.
A combined 12 points, 4-for-29 effort from the field and 11 turnovers left much to be desired offensively. A Moncrease layup with 7:16 left was the last field goal either team would get in the half. NSU converted on four free throws to take the slim 27-25 lead into the break.
The junior transfer Moncrease was not nearly done with her career night as the second half started. Scoring the first six points for the Lady Demons in the third, she began a 9-2 run that extended the lead to 36-27 four minuets into the half.
"I was just trying to do what I can," Moncrease said. "Whether that was stepping up to get a rebound and being aggressive on the boards or getting more shots up.
"Coach is always saying if you can get a hand on it you can grab it. I've been able to get one hand to a lot of them but I just have to get both of them there together."
She followed a career-best nine rebound performance at McNeese with eight more against Nicholls and blew past her previous career point total with 18 in the win.
"Very pleased with her performance tonight," Dupuy said. "It's not only the 18 points and eight rebounds but her physical presence down low.
"Their number 25 is very physical and she wears on you throughout the game. Leilani did a great job on the defensive end and around the basket. If we hadn't got that game from her we wouldn't have come out on top. Super proud of her and hope she can continue that."
A Bonner free throw maintained the nine-point edge late in the third but Nicholls closed the gap with five points in the final minute to make it a 45-41 game going to the fourth.
Nicholls carried the late momentum into the final frame tying things at 47. A key
Lacee Savage 3-point play immediately followed giving the lead back to the Lady Demons starting a 6-0 run making it a two possession game again.
The Colonels cut it to three with 1:40 left but four clutch free throw from Bonner and
Gabby Bell kept the game just out of reach for the visitors from Thibodaux.
Bonner finished the game with 19 points, her fourth straight double-digit scoring outing and set a new career high with seven rebounds.
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