NATCHITOCHES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore Charliee Dugas led three Lady Lions in double figures with 18 points, as SLU handled Northwestern State, 64-54, in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday evening at Prather Coliseum.
 
The Lady Lions (8-19, 7-9 Southland) won their second straight contest and improved their chances of advancing to next month's Southland Conference Tournament. Southeastern completed its first season sweep of the Lady Demons (7-20, 2-14 Southland) since the 2011-12 season, which was not coincidentally the last time SLU advanced to the postseason.
 
Southeastern and McNeese head into the final week of the regular season tied for the final spot. The Lady Lions have to win one more than the Cowgirls down the stretch to earn the final berth in the league tournament, scheduled for March 8-11 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
 
"We have to clean some things up on both ends of the floor for this final week," Southeastern head coach Ayla Guzzardo said. "We were very proud of the way Charliee stepped up for us, as well as (junior forward) Kyla Williams providing us with a presence in the post."
 
Dugas was joined in double figures by senior guard Taylin Underwood (13 points) and Kyla Williams (10 points). Dugas, Underwood and freshman forward Caitlyn Williams shared game-high honors with nine rebounds each.
 
Dugas, Underwood and sophomore guard Tyler Morrison led SLU with three assists apiece, as the Lady Lions finished with 11 assists versus just nine turnovers. Kyla Williams led SLU with four of its 15 streals, as the Lady Lions scored 25 points off 20 Lady Demon turnovers.
 
Jocelyn Scott led NSU with a game-high 26 points. Libba Gilliam chipped in 10 points for the Lady Demons, who were led by Tia Youngblood's eight rebounds and Nautica Grant's five assists.
 
SLU jumped out to a 15-2 lead and led for the entire first half. The Lady Lions went into the break with a 29-22 lead. Northwestern State would cut the lead to 45-42 heading into the final quarter.
 
A three-point play by Gilliam cut the Lady Lion lead to 49-48 with 8:19 remaining in the game. Southeastern put the game away, however, with a 9-0 run that over the next five minutes.
 
A three-point play by Kyla Williams capped the run and put SLU up, 58-48, with 3:07 left. Northwestern State would get no closer than six down the stretch, as the Lady Lions won in Natchitoches for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
 
Southeastern will close out the regular season with two home games. On Wednesday, the Lady Lions will host New Orleans at 7 p.m. in the University Center. LionVision subscribers can access a live video stream at www.LionSports.net/watch.