NACOGDOCHES, Texas—Another tremendous opportunity awaits the Northwestern State women's basketball team.

After falling in a tough game last time out against UIW, the schedule does not get any easier for NSU (9-8, 6-3), as it wraps up a three-game road swing with a trip to rival Stephen F. Austin (13-5, 7-2) on Thursday for the second and final regular season meeting between the two schools.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.

The Demons are great when coming off a loss this season, going 6-1.

"The top eight in the Southland all have winning records," head coach Anna Nimz said. "It is one big logjam. I'd rather get slapped in the face like we did last game now when we have time to learn and grow instead of it being down the stretch when that game could be the determining factor of our placement in the Southland Tournament.

"We're fighting to get into the conference tournament and get a good placement and maybe that was the slap in the face we needed. Now we need to learn from it."

The Demons dropped a tight 76-71 contest in Natchitoches in the first meeting with SFA on New Year's Eve. That game marked the beginning of a six-game winning streak for the Ladyjacks.

In the loss to SFA last month, Valentine scored 13 of her team-high 22 points in the final quarter to try to will the Demons back.

The Demons defense held Harmanie Dominguez to just six points, but Kaylinn Kemp scored a game-high 24 points for the Ladyjacks.

Despite the loss, NSU has shown its scoring balance in recent games, having four players in double figures in three consecutive games.

Last time out, it was Valentine (15), Vernell Atamah (12), Tiara Abron (11) and Stephie Salumu (11).

The Demons have two of the top five scorers in Southland play in Atamah and Valentine. They are the only pair of teammates who each average more than 15 points per game in conference action.

In addition to the big two, the Demons have received scoring contributions in a big way from Stephie Salumu and Tiara Abron.
 
Salumu, a sophomore from Belgium, just came back after missing eight games. In the two games against Houston Christian and UIW since her return, she has averaged 11.5 points per game on 57.1 percent shooting with 6.5 rebounds and one block per game.

Abron has scored in double figures in four straight games and five of the last six.

While the Demons have two of the top scorers in league play, SFA has four of the top 14.

"They are very good," Nimz said. "There is no drop off from the starting five to the next three in the eight kids they play. They play very well together, and they are very fast in transition. Every single one of them has the green light to shoot the ball, so it is going to be about being incredibly efficient. It won't be about taking one individual away because that means someone else will be there because they are such a good unit."

Expect many 3-pointers to be attempted in the game, as the teams are the top two schools in made 3-pointers in both overall games and in conference.

Dominguez is the main threat from deep for the Ladyjacks, tied for the lead in the Southland—tied with Valentine—with 25 made 3-pointers during league play.

NSU has been outstanding in defending the 3-point shot, as teams are hitting just 22 percent against it in conference play and have made just 33 3-pointers in SLC play, both of which are tops in the Southland.

Following the game, the Demons come back home for two games, starting with a visit from East Texas A&M on Saturday before hosting Nicholls on Jan. 29.