The Lady Demon basketball team at Northwestern State University of Louisiana will experience new challenges this 2021-2022 season and look to improve on last year’s results. It’s about time for basketball season, and for this fresh new team, it’ll be interesting to see the fireworks from the chemistry they’ve created over the offseason.

The 1-19 overall record from the 2020-2021 season is only a facade to what this next season holds.

NSU gained three junior college and five National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I transfers from this past offseason. While the recruitment process has changed drastically and essentially leveled the playing field for all NCAA Division I schools, the addition of eight new transfers on NSU’s squad will minimize the flashback of last year’s devastation and provide a fresh new outlook into NSU women’s basketball.

“I just want to see them come out and work hard,” said Anna Nimz, head coach of Lady Demon basketball. “We’ve struggled quite a bit with starting practice with an intense focus, but I want to, and I’m curious truthfully, to see how we start that game.”

The addition of new players can be nerve-wracking, to say the least, but the Lady Demons are ready to prove their stance, not only in the Natchitoches area, but in the Southland Conference. Nimz believes the fresh atmosphere will bring more excitement to the fans of the Lady Demons and the players that are eager to do some damage.

One of those players is guard Monette Bolden, a graduate student coming from a season at Louisiana Tech University and two seasons at Bossier Parish Community College.

Named first-team all-region and held the single-season scoring record with 668 points during the 2018-19 season, as well as becoming the first player in BPCC history to grab 1,000 points (1,157), averaging 22.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a sophomore, her presence looks to be another story in the spotlight for the Lady Demons.

“She brings something to the game that a lot of girls maybe don’t,” Nimz said. “I think she can get to the rim and create off the balance in a very special way, and I think the biggest asset for her right now, and for us is with her being a grad transfer, the game has slowed down already for her.”

Nimz said she sees things that some of the younger players won’t see right away.

The soft spoken Bolden won’t give you all of her secrets in her arsenal, but will gladly be an advocate for her teammates.

“Oh, they’re cool,” Bolden said. “I love my teammates. They’re easy to get along with, and have a whole lot of personalities.”

Another one of those unique players, sophomore guard Osha Cummings, has seen the ups and downs for this team in a different light. Cummings believes, with her expectations high, she will see the team come together and have better chemistry, while also giving herself room to grow as a player

“I plan to continue to work hard, hustle and advance my skills and shots,” Cummings said.

Cumming started 13 games in her freshman season, appearing in every game of the year, while averaging 27.7 minutes per game, the second-most by a true freshman in the Southland Conference for the 2020-2021 season. With Cummings changing from No. 24 to No. 12, the process is still the same; work hard, hustle and advance skills and shots.

“It’s just a new number, new year, new me to be better,” Cummings said.

Lady Demons start their season at home versus Centenary College of Louisiana on Nov. 9. With two-year coach Nimz bringing on a full new schedule, the potential is very easily seen.

“I think they just have a genuine excitement for the game,” Nimz said. “Although we brought in 11 new players and also two additional freshmen to mix in with those three, they’re playing well together. And so it’s exciting to see a group that’s brand new to one, another brand new to the program really collaborating the way that they do.”

For the entire 2021-2022 Lady Demons basketball schedule, click here.