The Northwestern State University of Louisiana women’s basketball team earned a 57-47 victory over Nicholls State University on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Prather Coliseum during their annual Greek night and black out game. The win improved the Lady Demons to 10-9 overall and 7-4 in Southland Conference play, while Colonels fell to 10-9 overall and 6-6 in conference play.
The game remained close until the end, with the teams tied 19-19 after the first quarter and trading the lead eight times throughout the night. In the second quarter, the Lady Demons gained a lead by outscoring Nicholls 16-6 and holding Nicholls scoreless for over six minutes. Despite a difficult third quarter, where the Lady Demons only scored four points, they came back in the fourth quarter with a score of 18-10 and secured the win.
“Collectively, there were a lot of positives, but we have to stop throwing the ball away,” Anna Nimz, NSU women’s head basketball coach, said. “We had a lot of unforced turnovers, and you are not going to win many games when you give up 22 possessions.”
Senior guard and biochemistry major Carla Celaya emphasized the team’s mindset in the game. “In past games we lacked toughness, and today it was really important for us to be tough and stay together,” Celaya said.
Sophomore forward and criminal justice major Clarence Djuela helped the Lady Demons gain the lead in the fourth quarter, scoring the first two baskets after the teams entered the final quarter tied.
“I had just come back from a poor third quarter and I was pretty frustrated with myself that I was not connecting on my shots at the rim,” Djuela said. “Coach told me to go out there and do my thing, and the shots will fall.”
Vernell “Vee” Atamah led the Lady Demons, scoring 16 points in just 15 minutes. Atamah picked up her third personal foul 15 seconds into the third quarter, and spent much of the game on the bench.
“Vee is one of the most important pieces in the team, but we also have the maturity to be able to handle when she’s out,” Celaya said.
Atamah, Djuela and Celaya weren’t the only Demons crucial for an NSU victory. “Peyton Miller had a phenomenal game,” Nimz said. “It may not always show up in the stat line, but she guarded one of the best players, and that is a huge defensive assignment. She stepped up and was crucial to this win.”
Tiara Abron finished the game with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Nya Valentine finished with 11 points and four assists. The Lady Demons forced 17 turnovers throughout the game.
The Lady Demons will travel to New Orleans on Jan. 31 to face the University of New Orleans, and will be on the road for the next three games against Lamar University on Feb. 5 and East Texas A&M University on Feb. 7 before having five home games in a row.
