LAKE CHARLES—In the Southland Conference, few teams have been as hot down the stretch as Northwestern State.

NSU (17-13, 14-8) enters the conference tournament on a four-game winning streak and went 6-1 in its final seven regular season games.

The Demons aim to carry that momentum into the tournament, as No. 5 NSU faces No. 8 East Texas A&M (13-16, 9-13) on Monday at Townsley Law Arena.

Tip-off is at 11 a.m. and it can be viewed on ESPN+ or fans can listen to it on KZBL 100.7 FM.

"The goal for every coach is to inch closer and closer to 40 minutes as you get to the end of the year," head coach Anna Nimz said. "We're not there yet, but we are absolutely playing some really good basketball.

"We have a lot of variance, which we still have to get better at to be able to make it through this tournament. But they are excited and they are ready. They believe and know they are a special group. We've had a couple of days to give our legs a rest, but mentally, still get after it."

For the first time in 23 years, the Demons have won 14 conference games. That season was also the last time the Demon won conference player of the year until this season.

This season's player of the year is Vernell Atamah, who is leading the league in both overall (19.3) and in conference games (19.0) and her 19.3 points per game are the most in the program since Beatrice Attura averaged 20.6 in 2016-17.

Atamah averaged 14 points and seven rebounds in the two SLC Tournament games last year, including 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

After scoring a basket to reach 1,000 career points in the regular season finale against Houston Christian, she has a chance to make some more history during the tournament.

With 87 made 3-pointers this season, she is just one behind Attura's school record of 88, set in 2016-17.

As a team, the Demons are also just one shy of tying the school record of 223, set just last season.

Valentine is another major factor in the 3-point shooting, making 70, helping her earn a second team all-conference nod.

In addition to her prowess from beyond the arc, she is also one of the best in the conference at setting her teammates up, ranking second in assists per game, averaging five in league play.

She is coming off a nine-assist effort in the Demons victory in the regular season finale against New Orleans.

The teams split the regular season meetings, with both teams winning on their home court.

In the last meeting, NSU was just beginning its hot stretch to end the season, winning its second in a row of the six of seven to end the season.

"Even though we have won six of seven coming in, our focal point this week is continuing to learn from our losses," Nimz said. "They are there for a reason. As long we've learned from those losses, then we can grow."

The Demons certainly grew from game one to game two against East Texas A&M, as Atamah and Tiara Abron combined for 35 points in the 60-51 win at Prather Coliseum last month.

Even with the big nights by Atamah and Abron, the game was won on the defensive end of the floor, as the Demons held the Lions to just 27.7 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-16 from deep.

In the win, NSU recorded 11 steals, its second most in a game this season and tops against Division I teams.

East Texas A&M did make its way to the free throw line, making 22 of 30 from the free throw line to give it a chance to win.

Despite only blocking one shot in each of the two regular season meetings, the Lions are one of the best teams in the Southland in rejections, blocking 3.8 shots per game during league play, which is second.

Tiani Ellison, the lone East Texas A&M all-conference selection, averaged 14 points per game in the two regular season matchups, including 21 points in Natchitoches.

The winner of the game plays again at 11 a.m. on Tuesday against No. 4 UTRGV.