THIBODAUX – A week ago Northwestern State was hoping to change the narrative of the fourth quarter, now it hopes to keep it going.
 
The Lady Demons (6-8, 2-2) rallied for two straight fourth-quarter wins on its home floor, and while they would like to see a little less drama on Saturday, a third straight win would be more confirmation of growth this season.
 
Tipoff against Nicholls (4-11, 1-3) is set for 1 p.m. from Stopher Gym and can be seen on ESPN+. Free streaming audio will also be available at www.nsudemons.com/watch.
 
The NSU defense has been the focal point of the past two fourth-quarter wins. It forced seven turnovers against Nicholls in the period, leading to 11 points, and rose to the challenge time and time again in the final seconds of the thriller with McNeese on Thursday.
 
Getting the stops on one end of the floor is only half the battle with the need to turn them into points on the offensive end a requirement for victory.
 
One player that has been at or near the center of both sides of the coin over the past several games has been Jiselle Woodson.
 
"She creates havoc and really bothers some of the best point guards in our conference," head coach Anna Nimz said. "Her great lateral foot speed and determination to keep her head on the ball really helps her guard up hard.
 
"But what's been the best of late is her consistency. The past few games she's been someone we know what we're going to get every single game on both sides of the ball."
 
With more than 32 minutes played in each of the past four games, and an average of 37.0 per game, Woodson has been on the floor more than any other player on the team since the conference season began.
 
For the second straight season injuries have moved Woodson from the sixth-man, shooting spark off the bench into the starting point guard position. A role that has been plainly evident she is much more comfortable in this year as opposed to last.
 
Still maintaining her fire, emotion, quickness and lay-it-on-the-line style of play, Woodson has not only helped facilitate the offense but been that pesky, annoying defender no team wants to face.
 
"We've been down in numbers, and still that way, and when that happens you always talk about how people need to step up," Nimz said. "Not only has she done that she's stepped in and taken on that position. We've generally played her at the two position but she's done a really great job in that one spot against some teams that have put on a lot of full-court pressure."
 
The Corner, Ala., native 10 points in the win against Nicholls a week ago, none bigger than the five in the first 45 seconds of the fourth quarter to break the 50-50 tie and send NSU into the period with immediate momentum.
 
She topped her 16-point outing against McNeese in Lake Charles with a new career high 24 points in the win on Thursday, including a critical 3-pointer that ended a long scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter that pulled the Demons back within a point. She is averaging 16.7 points per game in the past three games.
 
"It's always fun playing with Jelly (Woodson)," Joelle Johnson said, who has equally been in good form on the court with three straight double-digit scoring nights. "You always know exactly what you're going to get with her. She's going to bust her butt on defense, going to be a great teammate, talk to you and if she gets the points, she gets the points, she doesn't care. She's going to play hard regardless.
 
Her defense isn't always quantified on the stat sheet in terms of steals, just three in the past three games, but her constant ball pressure in the hip pocket of every player whether in man-to-man or zone defense sets the tone for the Lady Demons.
 
"My team has my back," Woodson said about her recent performances. "They've poured into me and helped me get to where I'm at and the coaches believe in me too. It's like coach said you've got to step up at some point when you're needed. That's what everybody has to do and I'm just grateful I've been able to do what I can."