NATCHITOCHES – A long, challenging season comes to a close for Northwestern State on Saturday with the season finale against Central Arkansas.
 
Tipoff is set for 11 a.m., starting a full day of Demon athletics on campus that culminates with the first football game of the spring season. The Lady Demons can be heard locally on 92.3 FM with subscription video and free streaming audio available at www.nsudemons.com or on the NSU Athletics mobile app, a free download in either the Apple or Google stores.
 
The Lady Demons (0-19, 0-14) look to close out the adversity-filled season with a strong performance to carry them into the offseason.
 
First-year head coach Anna Nimz has said countless times that her young group, playing majority freshmen and sophomores, has the ability and talent to get the job done, evidenced by the double-digit scoring of Erin Harris or 10 rebounds from Julia Sion in the past three games. More often than not it has come down to what's on the inside and the things they control game over game.
 
"It's not for lack of ability," Nimz said. "It comes down to those words that we have on the board – energy, effort, focus, pride – those things that we can control. I've credited our team all season for not giving up. I think that Nicholls game here really got us. It's been even tougher to get them rolling, but I know they have it in them."
 
Whether it is Osha Cummings scrapping for a team-leading eight rebounds, Harris or Tristen Washington finding the hot shooting hand, or Alexia Marsh most recently against New Orleans forcing turnovers the Lady Demons have shown their abilities in spurts all season long.
 
The Lady Demons can play spoiler of sorts with a good performance on Saturday as Central Arkansas (11-12, 9-6), who has already locked in a tournament spot winning its last three games in a row, is still battling for a potential No. 2 seed. The Sugar Bears would need a win and a little help to get the now triple bye after the bracket was expanded to 10 teams.
 
Not surprisingly it has been junior transfer Lucy Ibeh that has been the key component in UCA's late surge up the standings. She is averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds across the last five games, scoring in double figures each time, with a pair of 20-point outings.
 
While the season may be coming to an end for the Lady Demons, one thing is sure to continue – the process. A season filled with challenges was also a season filled with learning, both for the players and the head coach and her staff. 
 
"I think because I've had to encourage the girls through the season and find ways to keep them going forward, motivated and showing up it forced me to do the same," Nimz said. "In hindsight I realized how important it was doing that for myself and my mental health, my staffs and those around us. By doing it with and for the girls and keeping their hearts and minds right it forced us to stay as positive as possible."
 
Growth doesn't come when things go well and are easy, growth comes through challenges and struggles. The Lady Demons have faced their share of challenges this season and will continue to grow from them.