NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-quarter surge and a standout performance from Kaylinn Kemp, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks held off a persistent Northwestern State Demons squad for a 70-63 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at William R. Johnson Coliseum.

The Ladyjacks, improving to 14-5 overall, used a 23-point second period to erase an early deficit and never relinquished the lead again, despite the Demons cutting the margin to a single possession multiple times in the final minutes. Northwestern State fell to 9-9.

The most critical phase of the contest came in the second quarter. After a sloppy first period that saw Stephen F. Austin trail 22-12, the Ladyjacks flipped the script entirely. They outscored the Demons 23-11 in the frame, turning a 10-point hole into a 35-33 halftime lead. The run was fueled by improved offensive efficiency and defensive pressure, capitalizing on Northwestern State’s cold shooting. The Demons managed just 11 points in the quarter on 4-of-15 shooting from the floor.

Stephen F. Austin’s Kaylinn Kemp, a 5-foot-9 guard from Duncanville, Texas, orchestrated the victory with a game-high 21 points and nine assists. Her playmaking was pivotal during the Ladyjacks’ key runs, and she added seven rebounds. Lydia Cooke-Wiggins of Dallas contributed 12 points for the home team.

Northwestern State was led by Vernell Atamah of Mesquite, Texas, who scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Tiara Abron of Senatobia, Mississippi, added 13 points, and point guard Nya Valentine of Mobile, Alabama, finished with 10 points and five assists.

The Demons opened the game with clear energy, building their early double-digit lead behind Atamah’s eight first-quarter points. However, their offense stagnated in the second, and they finished the game shooting just 35.5% from the field on 22-of-62 shooting. Stephen F. Austin was more efficient, hitting 43.8% of its shots, including 8-of-20 from three-point range.

A significant disparity came at the free-throw line, where the Ladyjacks attempted 28 free throws, making 20, compared to Northwestern State’s 17 attempts, of which they made 12. Stephen F. Austin also won the rebounding battle decisively on the offensive glass, securing 12 second-chance opportunities to Northwestern State’s four.

Despite the Ladyjacks’ control for much of the second half, Northwestern State refused to fade. Trailing by seven entering the fourth quarter, the Demons used a 7-2 spurt, capped by a Nya Valentine three-pointer with 4:39 remaining, to close the gap to 63-61. Stephen F. Austin responded with key free throws from Kemp and Myka Perry down the stretch, and a critical layup by Kemp with 1:24 left pushed the lead back to six and effectively sealed the game.

The Ladyjacks’ defense also came up with crucial stops in the final two minutes, forcing difficult shots from the Demons and securing defensive rebounds to limit second chances.

The win completed a regular-season sweep for Stephen F. Austin over Northwestern State, having also defeated the Demons 76-71 on Dec. 31 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Kemp, who has been instrumental in the Ladyjacks’ recent success, continued her strong play, following up performances of 12 points and six assists against New Orleans and a 10-point, 11-assist double-double at Nicholls State.

Northwestern State, which had won two of its last three conference games coming in, was undone by its offensive inconsistencies. The Demons scored 22 points in the first quarter but were held to 41 points over the final three periods.

Stephen F. Austin will look to extend its winning streak when it travels to face Lamar on Saturday. Northwestern State returns home to host Texas A&M-Commerce, also on Saturday.