Preview: Incarnate Word Cardinals at Northwestern State Demons CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — A pivotal Southland Conference women’s basketball matchup featuring two teams jockeying for position in the league standings is set for Thursday night when the Northwestern State Demons host the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Prather Coliseum. Both teams enter with nearly identical overall records. The visiting Cardinals are 11-13, while the home Demons sit at an even 12-12. The game carries significant weight as the regular season enters its final stretch. Incarnate Word arrives with momentum from a 72-66 home victory over Nicholls State on Saturday. The Cardinals are led by guard Jorja Elliott, who is averaging 18.1 points over her last eight games. She scored 19 points with seven rebounds in the win over Nicholls State and poured in a career-high 29 points in a narrow loss to New Orleans on Feb. 12. Her backcourt play will be critical against Northwestern State’s defense. The Demons counter with their own standout in forward Vernell Atamah, who is coming off a dominant 23-point, 17-rebound performance in a 62-47 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Atamah has been a force, scoring 16 or more points in four of her last six contests. Her interior battle with Incarnate Word’s Raimi McCrary, who grabbed 13 rebounds against Nicholls State, will be a key focal point. History favors the Cardinals in this specific matchup. Just over a month ago, on Jan. 17, Incarnate Word defeated Northwestern State 66-53 in San Antonio. The Cardinals have won two of their last three games, while the Demons have split their last four, showcasing the parity expected in this contest. Northwestern State will look to leverage its home court, where it recently held Southeastern Louisiana to just 47 points. Incarnate Word seeks to improve its road form after dropping its last two away games. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.