LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — Northwestern State defeated McNeese State 65-58 in a women’s basketball game Monday night at Burton Coliseum. The Demons improved to 5-4 overall, while the Cowgirls fell to 7-4. Vernell Atamah led Northwestern State with 20 points, and Nya Valentine added 19. McNeese State’s Dakota Howard scored a game-high 17 points, and Jalencia Pierre contributed 14 points and seven assists. Northwestern State built an early lead and maintained a narrow advantage throughout, despite a 22-point second quarter from McNeese State. The Demons secured the conference victory in front of a crowd of 2,274.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded Southland Conference clash, the Northwestern State Demons used a decisive fourth-quarter surge to secure a 65-58 victory over the McNeese State Cowgirls in women’s basketball action Monday night at Burton Coliseum. The game, played before a crowd of 2,274, was a back-and-forth affair defined by runs and resilient responses until the final period, where the Demons finally created separation. Northwestern State improved to 5-4 overall, while McNeese State fell to 7-4. The most important part of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter. After trailing by as many as eight points in the second quarter and entering the final frame clinging to a slim 46-45 lead, the Demons faced a determined Cowgirls squad that had erased deficits all night. With 5:52 remaining and the score tied at 53, the game’s complexion changed on a critical sequence. McNeese State’s Jalencia Pierre committed a turnover, which Northwestern State’s Vernell Atamah swiftly converted into a steal. On the ensuing possession, Pierre fouled Northwestern State’s Nya Valentine, sending her to the line. Valentine calmly sank both free throws to put the Demons ahead for good, sparking a 7-0 run that gave Northwestern State a 60-53 cushion with just over four minutes to play. McNeese State would not get closer than five points the rest of the way. Northwestern State was propelled by a stellar performance from Vernell Atamah. The junior from Mesquite, Texas, played 39 minutes and scored a game-high 20 points, including two crucial free throws following a technical foul on the McNeese State bench in the final seconds. She added two assists and two steals. Guard Nya Valentine, a sophomore from Mobile, Alabama, was equally vital, logging 40 minutes and contributing 19 points and four assists. Her backcourt poise and late free throws were instrumental in sealing the win. McNeese State’s effort was led by Dakota Howard of Shreveport, Louisiana, who tallied 17 points. Jalencia Pierre of Springfield, Louisiana, filled the stat sheet with 14 points and seven assists, while Kaili Chamberlin of Medford, Oregon, added 10 points off the bench. The Cowgirls struggled to find consistent offense outside of that trio, particularly down the stretch as the Demons tightened their defense. The contest featured 13 lead changes and was tied on nine occasions. Northwestern State opened the game with a quick 5-0 spurt, but McNeese State answered with a 10-2 run to close the first quarter ahead 10-9. The Cowgirls built their largest lead at 32-24 late in the second quarter, capitalizing on Demon turnovers. However, Northwestern State closed the half on an 8-0 run, capped by a Vernell Atamah layup, to knot the score at 32-32 at intermission. The third quarter was a defensive slog, with both teams combining for only 27 points. Northwestern State managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth, setting the stage for the final decisive push. The Demons outscored the Cowgirls 19-13 in the final quarter, with their defense forcing key turnovers and their stars delivering at the foul line. Northwestern State shot from the floor, from three-point range and from the free throw line. McNeese State shot from the floor, from three-point range and from the free throw line. The Demons won despite committing 22 turnovers, largely by limiting McNeese State to one-and-done possessions in critical moments and winning the rebounding battle. Other key contributors for Northwestern State included Carla Celaya of Barcelona, Spain, with eight points, and Clarence Djuela of Berlin, Germany, with seven points. For McNeese State, Lexi Alexander of Round Rock, Texas, scored seven points. The victory gives Northwestern State momentum as it prepares for a quick turnaround, traveling to face Texas on Wednesday. McNeese State looks to regroup and will return to conference play on Dec. 29 at Incarnate Word.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A surging McNeese State women’s basketball team looks to continue its strong start when it hosts Northwestern State in a Southland Conference matchup Monday at Burton Coliseum. The Cowgirls (7-3) have won five of their last six games, including a decisive 71-45 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday. Dakota Howard led the way in that win, scoring 20 points in just 20 minutes. The guard has been a consistent offensive threat, averaging 12.1 points over her last seven contests. Northwestern State (4-4) enters following a 69-52 road win at Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 7. Tiara Abron paced the Demons with 18 points in that victory, part of an up-and-down season for the guard who scored 33 points in a November win but was held to single digits in two other recent games. McNeese State’s defense has been a cornerstone of its success, holding opponents to 52 points or fewer in four of its seven wins. The Cowgirls will aim to contain an inconsistent Demons offense that has been held under 60 points in three of its four losses but has also topped 100 points twice against non-Division I competition. This game opens a critical two-game conference road swing for Northwestern State, which travels to face Texas on Wednesday. McNeese State, meanwhile, begins a stretch of eight of its next 11 games on the road after Monday’s contest. The matchup features a contrast in momentum, with the home-standing Cowgirls seeking their sixth win in seven games while the visiting Demons look to build a winning streak and reach .500 in conference play. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.