Northwestern State betters Southern Arkansas

By: Houston Taylor

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Southern Arkansas had a Thanksgiving upset on their minds, but NCAA Division I Northwestern State (2-2) pulled away at the end for a 76-65 win over the Lady Muleriders (1-5) Saturday at Prather Coliseum.

Junior guard Goldie White, who scored a game-high 24 points in the contest, hit a jumper to pull SAU within 54-52 with 12:31 remaining. But the Lady Demons responded from there with a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes for their largest margin of the game at 70-56 with 5:22 left. Southern Arkansas fought back, getting three-pointers from sophomore forward Kristy Shinn and junior guard Lynzi Williams, with Williams’ free throw off a foul on her trey cutting the deficit in half, 70-63, at 3:08. The Lady Muleriders wouldn’t get closer though, as NSU scored the next six points before White’s jumper closed out the game for the final margin of 11 points.

White hit one of two free throws at the very outset for SAU’s only lead of the game. Brooke Shepherd’s steal and lay-up put Northwestern up 2-1 at 19:11 and the Lady Demons would stay on top the rest of the way, as the score was never tied.

Southern Arkansas battled the whole way, overcoming nine-point deficits in the first half to trail 29-27 at 4:28 on Williams’ three-pointer. But NSU roared back every time, using a 13-2 run here to jump back ahead, 42-29, with 1:47 remaining in the first frame. The Lady Muleriders used a 5-1 run to close out the half, trailing 43-34 at the break.

Turnovers were a key factor as Northwestern forced 25 from SAU and converted them into 27 points. The Lady Demons committed 15.

Five NSU players scored in double figures, led by Courtney Shead who finished with 17 points. She also pulled down six rebounds. Britney Kinlaw also contributed 12 points off the bench, and Shepherd led three others who added 10 each.

White was 10 of 17 from the floor, with one trey, and hit three of four at the free throw line for her 24 points. She added five rebounds and an assist and steal in 39 minutes, but turnovers still dog the junior as she committed 10.

Freshman center Kmaria Hobbs continues to post good numbers, scoring 19 points and sharing team and game-high honors with senior guard Shanaye Davis in grabbing seven rebounds. Williams finished with 12 points, hitting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, and dished out five assists and had three steals.

Northwestern State shot 50 percent from the floor, hitting 31 of 62, including 2 of 8 treys, and was 12 of 18 (66.7) at the free throw line. Southern Arkansas finished at 44.1 percent (26 of 59), with 7 of 18 treys (38.9), and was 6 of 9 (66.7) at the line.

SAU is in the midst of three games in as many days, participating in the Henderson State Classic in Arkadelphia Sunday and Monday. They square off Sunday against Montevallo (Ala.) at 1 p.m., before facing Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) Monday at 5 p.m.