Ladyjacks just too much for NSU, 89-40

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – It was a night to forget for Northwestern State in Nacogdoches on Wednesday, as Stephen F. Austin (14-3, 7-1 SLC) scored early and often in an 89-40 win.

“It was one of those nights where no aspect of the game plan was implemented,” fourth-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. “Anything that we threw at them just didn’t work. As a coaching staff we were coaching effort and attitude and if you have to coach those things this late in the season, you’re in trouble. We’ve got to do a better job all around as coaches and practice better.”

The Lady Demons (5-12, 2-6 SLC) showed the aggression they’d had in the past two games early. Cleaning up the glass, fighting for rebounds and creating second and sometimes third chances at scoring. Those chances went by the wayside however, creating a deficit that could not be overcome the rest of the night.

Kira Bonner drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the first quarter giving her double digits for the fifth straight game. Her total was almost the entire offense for NSU in the first half scoring 10 of the 12 total through the first 20 minutes of play.

Bonner’s tiny spark at the end of the first put a silver lining on what was a difficult first 10 minutes for the Lady Demons. The six-point swing made it a 20-10 game going to the second quarter.

Needing a couple more baskets early in the second and some even more needed defense stops to climb back into the game, NSU saw the deficit grow even larger over the next 10 minutes.

A Leilani Moncrease baseline jumper with 8:13 on the clock in the second were the first and only points for NSU in the half. SFA scored the next 21 straight to finish the half until another Moncrease jumper 23 seconds into the third quarter ended the lengthy drought.

SFA continued to have their way on the offensive end into the second half, extending the 41-12 halftime lead to a 66-26 advantage by the end of the third. The Ladyjacks kept the pedal down shooting better than 70 percent from the field in the third quarter and finished the game at 57 percent.

The Lady Demons showed their heart on several different occasions in the runaway second half. Victoria Miller fought for an offensive rebound and finished the second chance in the fourth quarter but the game was well in the bag by then.

“We fought a little bit better in the second half but I think we let the score affect our pride,” Dupuy said. “If you have true pride you’re going to keep playing to the bitter end and keep fighting. We’ve got to do a better job of competing and having more about ourselves and not let circumstances define us.”

The Lady Demons return to Prather Coliseum for three straight home games to finish the month of January.

Stay connected to NSU women’s basketball by following @NSUDemonsWBB on Twitter, @nsuladydemons on Instagram or by liking Northwestern State women’s basketball on Facebook.