NATCHITOCHES—The Northwestern State women's basketball team is off to its best start through 13 games since 2021-22, and another tough test awaits, as it welcomes UTRGV to Prather Coliseum on Thursday.

Tip is at 6:30 p.m.

NSU (7-6, 4-1) rebounded from its first Southland Conference defeat of the season with a big 50-46 road victory last time out against Nicholls.

The Demons are one of three teams on top of the conference with one defeat, tied with McNeese and UIW. Four teams are right behind at 3-2 in league play, a group UTRGV (6-8, 3-2) is a part of.

The Demons have thrived in close games late, as they are 3-1 in clutch time games. A clutch time game is described as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score difference is five points or fewer.

"We're finding a way to win even when we are not playing our best basketball," head coach Anna Nimz said. "If you're finding a way to win when you have 20 turnovers, when we take care of the ball and find better decision making, we're going to be a very tough team to play against.

"We made big plays when they were needed. We held them scoreless for the final 3:47, so we showed tremendous toughness in the face of adversity."

The defense surrendered just 46 points, its third game of surrendering fewer than 50 points in a game this season.

While the Demons defense has been strong, Nimz knows that there is room for improvement.

"One of our areas of growth needs to be in 1-on-1 guarding," Nimz said. "I think we've done a really nice job in the course of these games, but that is always an area we can grow and develop to be in that back side rotation and having incredible team defense."

UTRGV has won its last two clutch time games itself, both in league play, including a big win at Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 15.

 Two key factors in the game will be rebounding and 3-point shooting.

Both teams are in the top three in the league in both made triples and 3-pointers attempted, as NSU has gone 100-for-288, while UTRGV has made 92 triples in 310 attempts. The Demons do lead the league in 3-point percentage at 34.7 percent and have shot 35.6 percent during SLC play.

In league play, NSU has two of the top three 3-point makers in the conference, led by Nya Valentine's 14. Despite not making a triple in the win at Nicholls, Valentine takes the top spot, while Atamah is tied for second with 13, four of which came in the victory over the Colonels. She leads the SLC in 3-point percentage, shooting 52 percent.

While as a team UTRGV shoots 29.7 percent from behind the 3-point line, the Vaqueros have two of the top shooters from deep in the league. Kayla Lorenz leads the team with 26 makes and she connects on 38.2 percent of her triple tries.

Madison Huhn has buried 16 shots from deep and connects on 43.2 percent.

As a team, the Vaqueros have 11 players who have made at least one 3-pointer and seven have connected on at least five.

"They play with a bunch of high-energy kids," Nimz said. "They are incredibly driven and will attack the boards. They will make the extra plays and play well as a team. Like past games, it will be about putting our hard hat on and guarding our yard."

The game features the top two teams in the Southland Conference in rebounding margin in league games.

In its five games, the Demons are plus-9.0, while the Vaqueros are plus-6.2, with much of that being done without last season's SLC rebounding leader Charlotte O'Keefe.

Both teams are strong on the offensive glass, as both are averaging at least 13 offensive boards per game.

Last season, O'Keefe grabbed 12.5 rebounds per game, the third-best mark in the nation. This season, she is at 12.4.

In last year's meeting, O'Keefe posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Following the game, the Demons wrap up the home weekend with a visit from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday before heading on the road for three in a row, starting on Jan. 15 against Houston Christian.

"If you haven't come out to Prather to see us, this is a fun group to watch play," Nimz said. "They have no give-up and are resilient in how they play and that is a fun game to watch. We're as good as our community support and the more love and the more energy you provide and the more love these girls feel, the hard they're going to work and the more they're going to fight."