Lady Demons, Johnson seek next-play mentality at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas – Northwestern State makes its return to the Montagne Center for the first time in four years and with it looks to regain the “next-play mentality” that was instrumental in its first home win against Lamar in 15 years.

The Lady Demons (9-11, 5-5) didn’t let one missed shot or one turnover affect it in last Saturday’s thrilling 54-52 win against the Cardinals. Head coach Anna Nimz felt that was missing in Thursday’s loss at HCU, and something she wants to see right away as the team moves into the rematch with Lamar.

“Road games are hard and we’re learning that every single time wo get out there,” she said. “Now it’s about getting some ice and making sure our legs get rested and adjust from the game last Saturday against them, recognize what we did wrong against HCU and move forward from there. I believe they can get it done, but we’ve just got to play better together and be a better team.”

Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. Free streaming audio can also be heard on www.nsudemons.com/watch.

A huge part of the win over Lamar in Natchitoches, and a prime example of the next-play mentality, was Joelle Johnson and her nine third-quarter points that kept the Demons in the lead.

It was just one in a string of strong second-half performances by the transfer from Northern Kentucky. An eight-point second half against HCU were some of the most clutch of the game after missing all three of her attempts in the first half of the game.

“She could not have had more clutch or timely points than she’s had in the second half the past few games,” Nimz said. “When she hits, she gets the confidence brewing and she’s a gamer in that sense. Once she hits one she’s going to have the confidence to go for more in a row.”

Johnson’s hot shooting, not deterred by a miss that may come along the way, had been an enormous spark for the Lady Demons including in the loss to HCU. She upped her production to 14 in the second half on Thursday, nine coming in the fourth quarter, on her way to a career-high 22 points.

“It’s really hard to define,” Johnson said of her second-half success in the past few weeks. “I just know that my teammates are always talking to me and giving me confidence if my shots aren’t falling. I know that helps me a lot in terms of keeping my head up. If my team has confidence in me I can’t not have confidence in myself.”

Being asked to play around the basket, on both sides of the ball, a position she is still learning the ins and outs of, Johnson’s comfortability there, along with her ability away from the basket makes her a challenge for any opposing defense.

Johnson is averaging 10.3 second-half points per game over the past three games.

“She has the ability to play inside-out and because she’s a guard is quick off the bounce,” Nimz said. “She’s got good foot skill around the basket and can do some stuff there. It’s about continuing to grow and finding comfort in a role she wasn’t necessarily recruited to play but has taken it on her shoulders and done a nice job.”

Her matchup on the defensive end with Lamar’s Akasha Davis will most certainly be a pivotal one for both teams.

Davis put in a double-double against the Demons in Natchitoches and has scored in double figures in every conference game thus far for the Cardinals. Lamar made it clear it wanted to attack the painted area a week ago, and will no doubt try its luck again on Saturday, hoping for more success from beyond the arc, that it didn’t have a week ago, to balance the attack.

If there were any frustrations for the Cardinals following the last-second loss to NSU, they were taken out on their rival McNeese with a dominant 79-48 win in Lake Charles on Thursday night. The Cardinals shot 48 percent or better from the floor for the third time in the past four games in the win. NSU was the only team in that stretch to hold the Cardinals below 40 percent from the field.