By Jonathan Zenk, Northwestern State Assistant Director of Communications; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
SAN ANTONIO—In another close game against UIW, the Northwestern State women’s basketball team fell victim to a Myra Bell jump shot at the buzzer, falling 48-46 in the Southland Conference opener Friday afternoon at the McDermott Center.
Bell, who scored eight points in the game, pulled up for a jumper near the baseline to finish off a wild final few minutes in which Northwestern State came from six points down to tie the game in the final minute.
“I am disappointed in the outcome,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “Normally when you hold a team to 48 you’re in a good position to win. However, we just didn’t have enough contributors on the offensive end.
We had a lot of great execution but missed some two-foot buckets that we need to capitalize on. We missed opportunities on offensive put-backs.
UIW took advantage of our live ball turnovers which contributed to almost half their points.
We will continue to grow and get better.
I was very proud of that final five and their fight to win. There is a lot to work on, but we have what it takes it be great.”
The Demons (3-5) once again were led by Mya Blake in the final quarter, scoring six of Northwestern State’s final eight points, cutting a 46-40 UIW lead to a tie game.
Blake, who tied for the team lead with 15 points, tied the score with a tough runner in the lane off the glass with 28 seconds remaining. She scored following her 12th rebound of the game for her first double-double of the season.
Blake and Vernell Atamah each scored 15 points, combining for 30 of Northwestern State’s 46 points.
“Mya played a great game,” Nimz said. “She made players around her better and consistently works to get everyone open looks.”
Northwestern State wanted a fast start and the visitors did just that, making six of its 12 field goal attempts to take a 14-8 lead, holding the Cardinals to just 3-of-12 shooting. Atamah scored nine points, making four of her five field goal attempts to lead the way.
The lead ballooned to a game-high eight points early in the second quarter following a jumper from Blake. But a 17-4 run from UIW pushed the Cardinals in the lead at the break by five.
Jorja Elliott spearheaded the comeback, recording nine of her game-high 22 points while also recording an assist, accounting for 11 of the team’s 19 points in the second, as the Cardinals out-scored the Demons 19-8 in the period.
For the game, the Demons turned the ball over 18 times, which turned into 21 points for the Cardinals.
UIW shot 37.3 percent and Northwestern State shot 36.7 percent from the field, but the Demons made one of 12 3-point shots.
Nia Hardison scored a season-high eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including four points in the fourth quarter. Her final points came on a jump shot with 1:12 left to cut the deficit to 46-44.
Brynn Lusby came off the bench for the Cardinals and provided eight points.
The Demons return to Natchitoches on Dec. 14 for a battle with former SLC foe Central Arkansas at Prather Coliseum.