Lady Stallions Show Heart in Eunice — Growth, Grit, and Lessons Learned
EUNICE, La. — On a night where the Lady Stallions stepped into a hostile HPRE Center to face one of the toughest NJCAA programs in the region, North American University showed exactly why they're the No. 1 team in the USCAA rankings: heart, fight, and competitive fire from start to finish.
LSU Eunice used two timely runs — one late in the first quarter and another midway through the third — to create separation. But the story of this game wasn't the Bengals' runs. The story was how NAU responded.
From the opening minutes, it was clear the Lady Stallions were stepping into a high-intensity matchup. The Bengals hit a late 10–0 burst to close the first, but NAU refused to be rattled. In the second quarter, the Stallions tightened up, fought possession by possession, and clawed back to a 33–31 deficit at halftime.
Then came the spark.
Maurdaisha Powell stepped up as a steady offensive engine, attacking downhill, getting to her spots, and making sure NAU never drifted too far from striking distance. Her poise set the tone.
Savannah Velazquez provided scoring punch and big-moment confidence.
Janaa Johnson pushed tempo and created opportunities at the rim.
Lauren Vela came alive with timely buckets and fearless drives inside.
For a stretch in the third quarter, that energy flipped the momentum — the Lady Stallions regained the lead and looked ready to take control.
But championship lessons aren't always learned in wins.
LSU Eunice answered with another run — sparked by back-to-back threes — and that swing ended up being the difference. Physicality rose. Emotions rose. And instead of losing discipline, the Lady Stallions matched the toughness and kept swinging.
On the defensive end, three players made their presence felt:
Keasia Robinson turned the pressure up, showing the Bengals that NAIA athletes hit the weight room too.
Jerkayla Dickey played with grit, deflecting passes and making life difficult in the paint.
Peyton Overton brought the edge NAU needed, standing strong against a team known for its physical style.
What the stat sheet won't show is how the game nearly swung several times. NAU ran stride-for-stride with a program many assume they shouldn't compete with on paper — and that says everything about the direction of this team.
This wasn't a loss.
This was a reminder.
A tough night that sharpens a championship group.
Last season, after a tough challenge at Sam Houston State, the Lady Stallions came back and dominated XULA, a team favored to win. History has a funny way of repeating itself.
And this group? They're built for the bounce-back.
Up next: NAU vs LSU Shreveport Dec. 4 — 5:30 PM Stafford MSN — "The Stable"
Bring your popcorn. Bring your energy. Bring your voice. Because this next one? It's going to be a show.
Hooves Up, Stallion Nation.
Gallery: WBB vs LSU E
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