NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State defense has seemingly rounded in to form over the past two games. With improved play around the basket and a burst of energy from a new addition, NSU may be zeroing in on the long-awaited first win.
 
The Lady Demons (0-14, 0-9) take their next shot at putting a notch on the left side of the column Saturday afternoon against in-state rival McNeese. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. inside Prather Coliseum, the first game of the first home Demon doubleheader with the NSU men of the season.
 
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can also be heard live locally on 92.3 FM or on the NSU Athletics mobile app, a free download in either the Apple or Google stores.
 
Super 1 Foods is the presenting sponsor of Saturday's doubleheader. Ahead of the game, Super 1 customers can use a promo code on their receipt to get a $2 discount on tickets for Saturday's games. Additionally, Super 1 is giving away a $50 gift card at each game of the doubleheader. There will also be a fan zone set up where Super 1 will give out free water and snacks for all fans. Orange Demon rally towels will be available for fans while supplies last.
 
Anytime you hold your opponent to 56 points in a game you feel good about your chances of winning. That was the sentiment first-year head coach Anna Nimz had following Wednesday's loss to UIW.
 
For the second straight game the defense did plenty to give the Lady Demons a chance to win the game. It held HBU to just two points for more than six minutes to start the third quarter and kept UIW in check throughout the night.
 
The offense as a whole wasn't there to provide the support needed, but the marked improvement around the rim from sophomore Julia Sion during the stretch has given the Lady Demons something they've needed all season.
 
"Her overall attitude towards the game, towards practice, just towards her role has been a lot better," Nimz said of the 6-foot-2 post player. "The last two or three games her effort has been 100 percent. Two games ago she wasn't able to see it as well on the stat line because she got in foul trouble, but they were hustle plays so I wasn't upset about that. 
 
"Against UIW she did what we thought she could do all along. She got out and ran in transition and was the fastest post player on the court. This time she was able to pull down the passes that came to her and finish at the rim."
 
Beyond catching the open look and finishing at the rim, Sion displayed another side of her game one a handful of occasions by driving to the basket for the layup. Reinforcement of those defensive reads will be a focal point for Nimz and Sion moving forward.
 
The burst of defensive presence against UIW could also be attributed to the burst of energy the Lady Demons received from the addition of JaMiya Braxton who was ruled eligible for competition the morning of the game.
 
The transfer from Cleveland State, who started more than 40 games in her two seasons there, provides at minimum another body to a small roster and even more with her ability to shoot the basketball.
 
"I think she brought confidence to the girls against UIW," Nimz said. "We had the best shoot around we've had all year and it was right after JaMiya was told she could play. She brings experience at a high-level and has the ability to bring some maturity to the game. She's a good 3-point shooter and we're excited to continue to develop her. She gives us life and in a tough time gave us a burst of energy, so I'm excited for the girls to continue to rally around that and keep playing better team basketball."
 
Braxton led CSU both her freshman and sophomore seasons in 3-pointer made, shooting better than 40 percent from deep a season ago. The bigger guard gives the Lady Demons depth on the outside and adds another threat from beyond the arc.
 
The play of Sion and Braxton will be key for the Lady Demons as they take on McNeese (4-9, 4-2) who come into the contest having lost its last two games.
 
Junior forward Divine Tanks recorded her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Cowgirls' loss to UIW on Monday. She leads the team with a 9.7 point and 6.6 rebound per game average.