Northwestern State sophomore Chloe Donnell wasn't known for being a prolific shooter during her freshman season. She came into the 2026-27 season with the program knowing she needed to play to her strengths — namely her defensive skills — but, by her own admission, she hasn't been considered the team's strongest shooter or even a strong contributor in that realm.
That all changed this week when Donnell put up a ferocious 46-point game that included 14 made 3-pointers (which ties the record set by Baylor's Juicy Lundrum in 2019) and helped the Lady Demons cruise to a 120-40 win over Ecclesia College. The game also tallied the third-highest scoring game in the program's history (Pam Hudson had 48 points and Linda Grayson had 47). To make things all the sweeter, the game was Donnell's first with Northwestern State since transferring to the school.
It's possible no one was more blown away than she. "I don’t think anything could compare to this," Donnell said via a press release shared by Whole Hog Sports. "I have never been much of a scorer. I contribute well defensively and other things, but I just shot the ball well. I knew I was hitting, but I didn’t realize it was that many until the fourth quarter."
Chloe Donnell will need to repeat her performance against a tough Arkansas team
Hopefully, this is the new normal for the Lady Demons and for Donnell, especially as the team prepares to play Arkansas on Friday. The Lady Razorbacks are known for shutting down three-point attempts, and Donnell and her teammates will have to dig deep to figure out a way to get around that system.
Donnell's performance wowed her coach Alan Frey, who is in his first season with the program. Frey previously worked as an assistant coach at Loyola University New Orleans. He explained that the team made sure to facilitate what was happening on the floor by setting screens, but ultimately they had to trust Donnell when she said she was hot — and it turns out, that's exactly the kind of strategy that works.
The Lady Razorbacks will have a unique home court advantage Friday, as the game serves as the team's annual Elementary Day game. That means around 10,000 kids from local schools will be in attendance, and many will likely be rooting for their home team.
Donnell will also get plenty of chances to have a repeat performance after the Arkansas game — the team will then face Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech.
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