Box Score Box score

Sophomore Rachael Pecota led the Huskies for the second-straight game with 19 points, but it was not enough, as Northeastern suffered a 71-53 setback to Kent State in its home opener on Tuesday night.

Pecota hit four three pointers and went 5-of-6 from the foul line while adding five rebounds and two blocked shots to lead Northeastern.

Junior Kashaia Cannon and sophomore Afreyea Tolbert were second on the team with 10 points apiece. Tolbert also posted a team-high eight rebounds.

Junior Jamie Conroy added eight points, five assists and three rebounds for the Huskies while freshman Jewel Tunstull contributed seven rebounds and two points. Senior Mia Mayberry posted four points for Northeastern.

The Huskies began the game with a 5-0 run in the first minute of action off a jumper by Tolbert and then a three-point field goal from Cannon. Kent State used a 10-5 run in the next four minutes to tie the score at 10-10 with just over 15 minutes remaining in the half.

The Golden Flashes extended their lead to 21-10, as Northeastern was unable to put the ball in the basket. The Huskies dry spell ended at the 7:51 mark with a field goal from Tolbert. Cannon sunk her second shot from beyond the arc on the next possession to bring the score to 21-15.

Kent State went into the media timeout at 3:36 with a 25-17 lead. Following the break, Pecota hit two shots from the charity stripe to bring the score to 25-18, but her two baskets would be the last points for the Huskies in the half. A jumper from Taisja Jones and a free throw from Tayler Stanton gave the Golden Flashes a 28-18 lead at the half.

Kent State pushed its lead to 34-21 within the first three minutes of the second half. The Huskies responded with a 6-0 run and cut their deficit to seven points with a Conroy field goal, but Kent State was quick to respond and took a 43-30 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining.

The Huskies found themselves over the limit in fouls before reaching the halfway mark of the second period and the Golden Flashes took advantage, notching 15 points coming from behind the charity stripe.

Kent State held a 58-38 lead at the second media timeout at 7:58 and baskets by Stanton and Chenel Harris put the Golden Flashes ahead, 64-38. Northeastern responded with consecutive three-point field goals from Cannon and Pecota to bring it to 64-44 with just under five minutes to play.

The Huskies did not stop fighting and ended the game on a 9-7 run, but the Golden Flashes prevailed for a 71-53 victory.

Kent State had four players score in double figures, with Jones leading the way with 16 points. Jamilah Humes added 14 for the Golden Flashes, while Harris and Stanton rounded out the players in double-figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Kent State ended the game with a 47.1 shooting percentage while the Huskies shot 28.8 percent on the night. The Golden Flashes also edged Northeastern on the boards, outrebounding the Huskies 40-38.

Northeastern moves to 0-2 on the season while Kent State improves to 2-0.

Northeastern travels to Iowa City this weekend to participate in the Hawkeye Challenge, hosted by the University of Iowa. The Huskies will battle Iowa on Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT) and then return to the court at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Sunday to face either Central Michigan or Northern Colorado.

Fans can watch a replay of tonight's game, as well as all Huskies' home events, on GoNU.TV.