Southeastern maintains Southland lead, extends win streak to five with 65-50 win at NSU

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Southland Conference-leading Southeastern Louisiana University women’s basketball team continued its winning ways with a 65-50 victory over Northwestern State Thursday evening in Prather Coliseum.

The Lady Lions (16-8, 11-3 Southland) extended their winning streak to five games and completed the season sweep of Northwestern State (10-14, 6-8 SLC) with Thursday’s win. SLU held the Lady Demons to 36.0 percent shooting (18-for-50) and forced 24 turnovers in a contest that saw Southeastern lead by as many as 24 points.

Southeastern still remains at the top of the pack in the Southland Conference after Thursday’s win. The Lady Lions have also punched their ticket to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Southland Basketball Championships presented by www.LouisianaTravel.com.

Hailey Giaratano led the Lady Lions with 15 points and was joined in double figures by teammate Alexius Horne (14 points). Horne and Jen Pierre contributed three assists apiece for SLU.

Natalie Kelly led SLU with 10 rebounds and contributed two blocked shots to the defensive effort. Giaratano, Pierre and Cierria Cunningham chipped in with two steals each.

SLU held a slight 12-11 after the opening quarter but took control for good with a dominant second quarter. Southeastern held NSU to 14.3 percent (2-for-14) shooting in the period, outscoring the Lady Demons, 23-5, to take a 35-16 lead into the break.

Northwestern State never threatened in the second half, as a Horne jumper with 5:46 left in the third quarter gave SLU its largest lead at 41-17. NSU would get no closer than 20 the rest of the period, only narrowing the final margin with a couple of threes in the final minutes.

The Lady Lions will continue their three-game road swing Saturday with a 2 p.m. league contest at Texas A&M-Commerce. Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN3 and live stats, provided by the hosts, will be accessible on the women’s basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

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