NATCHITOCHES—A dominating performance on the glass and a career high from Vernell Atamah were not enough to offset a cold shooting night in a 71-65 loss to UIW on Thursday evening at Prather Coliseum.

Despite out-rebounding the Cardinals 48-35, NSU (13-13, 10-8) shot 29.6 percent from the field, while UIW (12-13, 10-8) shot 48 percent and 60 percent from deep to win.

The loss overshadowed a career night from Atamah, who scored a career-high 33 points to go with 11 rebounds for her second double-double in the last three contests.

She made six 3-pointers to bring her total to 76 on the season, moving her into a tie for fourth place in program history for made 3-pointers in a single season. Her total is now just 12 shy of the school record of 88, set by Beatrice Attura in 2016-17.

"There were so many positives and so many dominant things from the game," head coach Anna Nimz said. "Statistically, you look at it, you take care of the ball, and you win the rebounding war, especially in that fashion, plus the rebound put backs, you should win that game by 20.

"It's a tough one to swallow. I hate it for the girls. There are too many two-possession games that we've left on the board. I've got to do better."

Clarence Djuela added a career-high 17 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass.

As a team, the Demons grabbed 27 offensive rebounds, the most in a game since also hauling down 27 against Loyola (NO) on Nov. 25, 2011. It is the most against a Division I opponent since collecting 29 against Sam Houston State on Feb. 8, 2007.

"Overall, I thought we played one of our better games," Atamah said. "All my teammates brought in tonight. Clarence was just wonderful on the boards. I do think we need to do a better job at pulling away in a game like that."

Coming in shooting 31.5 percent from deep, the Cardinals made 9-of-15 from deep to keep them in the lead throughout much of the second half.

Even though it made nine triples, UIW did not attempt one in the fourth quarter, a period that was the deciding factor in the Cardinals victory.

With UIW leading 55-52 at the end of three quarters, the Cardinals scored the first six points of the fourth to take a game-high nine-point lead, before Nya Valentine buried a triple with 4:51 remaining in the game for NSU's first points of the fourth.

The Cardinals made all six of their free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

While UIW dominated at the rim and the free throw line in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals started the game with the flurry from deep.

Djuela began the game with a put back layup on the game's opening possession, but that was NSU's only time being in front in the opening 10 minutes. After Djuela's opening bucket, Gwendlyn McGrew made three 3-pointers on three straight possessions, part of a 20-point night and 4-for-4 from deep.

Tiara Abron had seven of her 11 points in the opening quarter to help NSU come back and tie UIW after one.

A nine-point run from the Demons gave them a 27-20 lead, highlighted by Atamah's five points during the spurt. But the Cardinals fought back to grab a three-point lead at the break.

NSU had a spurt to give it a six-point lead in the third, but UIW always had answers and after a 3-pointer from Madison Cockrell put the visitors in front 52-50, the Cardinals never relinquished the lead.

Cockrell scored a team-high 21 points, all of which came in the second half.

Jorja Elliott, a thorn in the side of NSU and has been the last two years, scored four points during the opening fourth quarter spurt from UIW, part of a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double.

"We allowed three players to have 56," Nimz said. "Normally, we do a really good job at protecting the 3-point line. Those girls for UIW hit some very contested 3s and we let Madison Cockrell get going."

NSU finishes its five-game home stand with a Senior Day game against Houston Christian on Saturday. Tip-off is at 1 p.m., as the Demons are honoring five seniors.