HOUSTON (Interstat) — Nya Valentine scored 18 points to lead Northwestern State to a 67-57 victory over Houston Christian in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Sharp Gymnasium. The Demons built a 35-27 halftime lead and maintained control throughout the second half despite a 20-point fourth quarter from the Huskies. Tiara Abron added 13 points for Northwestern State, which improved to 9-7 overall. Jordan Jackson led Houston Christian with 16 points as the Huskies fell to 4-11. Northwestern State shot effectively early, establishing an eight-point lead after the first quarter. Houston Christian, which has lost four straight, could not overcome the early deficit in front of 547 fans. The game was a Southland Conference contest.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Northwestern State women’s basketball team leaned on a stifling defensive effort and a pivotal third-quarter surge to secure a 67-57 victory over Houston Christian on Thursday night at Sharp Gymnasium. The Demons, who improved to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference play, weathered a staggering 21 turnovers by holding the Huskies to a frigid 26.2% shooting from the field. Houston Christian (4-11, 1-4) compounded its offensive woes by connecting on just 4 of 31 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. Northwestern State guard Nya Valentine, a 5-foot-3 sophomore from Mobile, Alabama, spearheaded the attack with a game-high 18 points, including four three-pointers, and added four assists. Her backcourt partner, Tiara Abron, logged all 40 minutes and contributed 13 points, while forward Stephie Salumu of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, provided crucial energy off the bench with 12 points, two blocks and a team-high seven rebounds. The most important stretch of the contest arrived in the third quarter. Leading 35-27 at halftime, the Demons opened the second half on a 9-1 run, capped by a Vernell Atamah three-pointer assisted by Valentine, to build a 44-28 advantage with 6:58 remaining in the period. Atamah, a junior from Mesquite, Texas, finished with 10 points. Houston Christian, which never led, struggled to mount a consistent challenge. The Huskies were held to 10 points in the third quarter on 3-of-16 shooting, allowing Northwestern State to take a 49-37 lead into the final frame despite their own offensive miscues. Jordan Jackson, a 6-foot guard from Sachse, Texas, led the Huskies with 16 points, and Kamryn McLaurin of Friendswood, Texas, added 12. Houston Christian’s effort was hampered by an inability to capitalize on its significant advantages in rebounding, where it held a 45-31 edge overall and a 14-5 margin on the offensive glass, and in turnovers, forcing 21 while committing only nine. The Huskies made a final push in the fourth quarter, trimming a 15-point deficit down to seven on two occasions, the last at 56-49 with 2:22 to play following a Jackson jumper. Each time, Northwestern State found an answer. After the second Jackson basket, Salumu was fouled and sank two free throws, and on the ensuing possession, Valentine found Salumu for a layup to push the lead back to 60-49, effectively sealing the game with 1:25 remaining. Northwestern State’s offensive execution, while not always clean, proved more efficient. The Demons shot 42.3% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. Carla Celaya, a guard from Barcelona, Spain, chipped in eight points, five rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes. The game was a departure from recent form for both teams. Northwestern State entered having split its last four conference games, while Houston Christian had lost three straight. The Demons’ defense, which entered allowing just 58.6 points per game in Southland play, validated its reputation. Northwestern State will look to build momentum when it travels to face Incarnate Word on Saturday. Houston Christian aims to regroup at home against Texas A&M-Commerce, also on Saturday. The announced attendance at Sharp Gymnasium was 547.

Preview: Northwestern State Demons at Houston Christian Huskies HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Northwestern State Demons look to climb above .500 in Southland Conference play when they visit the struggling Houston Christian Huskies on Thursday night at Sharp Gymnasium. Northwestern State (8-7, 2-1 Southland) enters on a high note after a convincing 65-49 home victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Saturday. The Demons’ attack was balanced, with Tiara Abron scoring 18 points and Carla Celaya posting a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Nya Valentine added 15 points and eight assists. Celaya, a key player to watch for the Demons, has been a consistent contributor, averaging a near double-double over her last five games. Her versatility will be central to Northwestern State’s efforts to control the tempo. Houston Christian (4-10, 1-2) seeks to halt a six-game skid, with its last win coming on Dec. 12. The Huskies are coming off an 87-67 road loss to Stephen F. Austin, where Kamryn McLaurin led the team with 11 points. McLaurin has been a bright spot, averaging 13.2 points over her last five contests and will need another strong offensive performance to challenge the Demons. The Huskies have struggled defensively during their losing streak, allowing an average of 71.2 points per game. Containing Northwestern State’s multi-faceted offense, which features three potent scorers in Abron, Celaya and Valentine, presents a significant challenge. Historically, this matchup has been closely contested, adding intrigue to Thursday’s conference tilt. The Demons aim to build momentum before a quick turnaround at Incarnate Word on Saturday. The Huskies, meanwhile, desperately need a home victory to regain footing before hosting Texas A&M-Commerce this weekend. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST in Houston.