NATCHITOCHES – After an unexpected week without a game, the Northwestern State women return to action on Monday in the first of three games in six days that begins the final stretch of a long 2020-21 season.

The arctic blast that descended on most of the South a week ago pushed the Lady Demons' (0-15, 0-10) contest with Nicholls to Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. It will serve as the opener of a Demon doubleheader with the NSU men slated to play Houston Baptist later that evening.

Both games can be heard on the Demon Sports Network – 92.3 FM (women) or 95.9 FM (men) – with live subscription video available at www.nsudemons.com or on the NSU Athletics mobile app, a free download in either the Apple or Google stores.  

Adjusting and being flexible was nothing new for the Lady Demons this past week who have, along with most of the country, been doing that all season for one reason or another. It wasn't COVID-19 that caused a postponement this time but plenty or adjusting was needed as Natchitoches was wrapped in ice for most of the week.

The adjustments for the Lady Demons haven't just been off the court though, especially in the last three games. It has been a shift in the defensive presence that has given NSU chances to notch its first win more than once over the past five games. While the scheme itself hasn't seen many changes, the knowledge of it that comes from doing has been the biggest change of late.

"I believe the biggest difference is just continued experience," first-year head coach Anna Nimz said. "We are playing majority freshman and players that had not seen a lot of court time prior to this year. With experience come more success and understanding."

The Lady Demons have allowed an average of 65.6 points over the past five games and held their opponents to 65 points or less three different times. One of those instances includes a season-best 56 allowed to UIW.

The rub, however, has been the offensive production.

While the Lady Demons have not shot the lights out all season, the struggles of late have been exacerbated by the fact the defense has done its job in spades.

In four of the last five games NSU has shot less than 30 percent, a number it has only surpassed six times total, most recently the 36 percent effort in the nine-point loss to UIW where it managed just 47 points.

The Lady Demons will need both sides of the ball to be in good form as they face a Nicholls team that, although has lost four of its last five, has the ability to put plenty of points on the board.

Sophomore forward Chelsea Cain continues to be the primary force for the Colonels, averaging 16.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, good enough for second and third in the conference, respectively.