RUSTON—Scoring 29 goals in a span of two games will raise the confidence of any team.

Northwestern State (2-5) aims to build more confidence when it takes that strong offense into the final game of the non-conference slate against Grambling (1-6-1) on Thursday.

The contest is at 4 p.m. at the Ruston Sports Complex.

The Demons are coming off an offensive explosion for the ages, scoring 16 goals in the first half en route to a 24-1 win over Alcorn State for their 13^th straight unbeaten game at home, which ties a school record.

In the 24-goal onslaught, Paige Baumgartner scored a school-record five goals, including four in the first 15 minutes of action to set the tone.

For that showing, the graduate student earned her second consecutive Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award.

Her eight goals overall lead the Southland and are tied for fifth nationally, while her 18 points also lead the conference and tied for seventh in the country.

That 24-goal outburst comes on the heels of tallying five goals, including four in the second half, in a comeback win over Louisiana Tech in the home opener.

While Baumgartner wasn't honored on Senior Night, she is a graduate student, part of this six-member senior class. Head coach Ian Brophy was excited about the seniors' performance.

"I was really happy our seniors had a good Senior Night," Brophy said. "Talking to them after the game, they really enjoyed it and had a great night and that is what was really important. If our seniors felt like they had a great Senior Night, then I am happy with how the game went."

In addition to Baumgartner's five, fellow senior Emily Gundin scored four to go along with a school-record four assists, which is tied with another senior Riley Stern, who also had four in the win over UAPB.

A pair of players—Tayla Crandell and Alexia Adimmah—found the back of the net for the first time in their careers.

"It was really great to score my first collegiate goal," Crandell said. "It was great to have everyone on the field and play and connect the ball all the way up and then I was able to score, and it was great."

Crandell, a native of Utah, scored in the second half, and her childhood friend saw her first career action as well.

Sabrina McCarter, also a native of Utah, played in her first game as a Demon at goalkeeper.

"I've known Sabrina since I was 10 since we played on the same club team," Crandell said. "To come here together is really cool," After I committed, Coach Ian was looking at Sabrina as well and after that happened, I knew she was going to commit here as well."

Brophy highlighted the importance of putting everybody in to boost their confidence with league play right around the corner.

"I played everybody who was able to against Pine Bluff," Brophy said. "We were excited by the fact that we were able to give good minutes to the people who don't normally get good minutes and they played large portions of the game and I was excited by some of those performances."

After scoring two goals in its first five games, NSU rebounded to score 29 in the last two, and has the team as confident as ever as conference season is right around the corner.

"At the beginning of the year, we struggled a bit," junior Ravina Sandhu said. "Because of that, the team confidence was a bit low. But coming back from those games, starting with the Tech game, getting some goals helped release some of that stress and anger we've had the last few games. I think we are on a great run and it's only going to go up from here."

While Grambling only has one win, the Tigers have been in virtually every match, losing three of their six by a single goal and one more by two goals.

"They are a really good team," Brophy said. "They are going to be really ready for the game and another one that has been tough to prepare for, and we know they are going to throw some things at us that we haven't seen this year. We know this isn't going to be easy game, and this has to be a game where we are disciplined and do the little things right."

Grambling has played four Southland teams already this season, going 0-3-1, with three of the four being decided by either one or zero goals.

Of the seven goals scored by the Tigers this season, Nyla Dore-Anderson has found the back of the net four times.

Following the match, NSU heads back home to begin conference play against Lamar on Sept. 24 before rounding out the weekend with a trip to rival Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 27.