NATCHITOCHES—After having just one home game in the last month, Northwestern State couldn't be happier to be back to play in front of the friendly crowd.

NSU (11-11, 8-6) makes its return to Prather Coliseum on Thursday against league-leading McNeese (20-4, 14-1) for the annual 'White Out' night.

Tip-off is at 6:30.

This is the first game of a five-match homestand, the most consecutive home games since 2015-16 when NSU also had five in a row from Dec. 12-Jan. 4.

The last time NSU played five SLC games in a row at home was 2001-02, winning all five from Jan. 19-Feb. 4.

"We know we're prepared," head coach Anna Nimz said. "There should be some excitement about getting to play five in a row at home. What an opportunity. Can we string some of these together and do something special? The answer is yes we can, but we have to fight for it.

"They are going to be coming for us, and you have to imagine they will be even better than they were in their previous eight or nine games. Our players were excited for the challenge last game against them and they will be again."

The Cowgirls have only lost once all season long in Southland Conference play, which came against NSU in Lake Charles in December.

Vernell Atamah and Nya Valentine combined to score 39 points with eight made triples in that first game. One of Valentine's made triples was of the cold-blooded variety, a 3-pointer from the right wing to put the Demons in front 63-58 with 20 seconds left, as NSU emerged with a big 65-56 road victory.

Valentine also did work to help her teammates as well, as she dished one of her four assists to Clarence Djuela for a layup to put NSU in front 60-58 with two minutes to play.

It was close throughout, as the game was within four points the entire second half before Valentine's late triple.

Since the loss to NSU, the Cowgirls have been on a mission, dominating opponents by an average of 21.5 points per game during their 13-game winning streak, including a 48-point blowout of Houston Christian on Feb. 5.

While the Demons dropped their last game at East Texas A&M, Tiara Abron has developed into the third scorer NSU has desperately needed. Abron scored 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting and has reached double figures in points in eight of the last nine games.

During SLC play, Abron is 16^th in the conference at 11.4 points per game, and the Demons are the only team in the league with three of the top 16 scorers during conference play.

For McNeese, Dakota Howard averages 15.2 points per game during SLC play on 53.6 percent shooting, including 43 steals, which leads the Southland. She had 17 points in the first meeting.

Seven others average at least five points per contest.

Turnovers will be a factor, as McNeese forces 24.8 opponent miscues a game.

"We had 23 turnovers the first time and they had 21 points off our turnovers and 23 is oddly below what they force on average. They have so much fight and determination and they hockey sub, so they are always fresh. Every player has ability to get 6-8 points and many of them have the capability to have big time nights. We must guard our yard."

The Demons continue their stretch of five consecutive home games with a visit from another in-state rival, Southeastern Louisiana, on Saturday. It is the second of three games in five days for NSU, as it also plays East Texas A&M in a rescheduled game on Monday.