Box Score Box score

Junior Kashaia Cannon scored a team-high 17 points and sophomore Rachael Pecota poured in 15 points for the Huskies in their 79-58 loss to VCU on Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Northeastern drops to 6-10 (1-4 CAA) on the season while VCU improves to 9-6 (4-1 CAA).

Sophomore Afreyea Tolbert pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for Northeastern while adding four points. Senior Mia Mayberry also chipped in four points and pulled down four rebounds. Sophomore Christine Huber added five points for Northeastern while classmate Deanna Kerkhof posted six points for the Huskies.

Courtney Hurt posted her 14th double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Andrea Barbour and Sonia Johnson also posted double-digit performances, with 17 and 12 points, respectively.

The Rams got on the board first with their first possession off a jumper from Barbour. The basket opened up a 8-0 run for VCU before Northeastern called for a timeout at 17:05. The Rams pushed their lead to 10-0 before Huber sunk a three-pointer for the Huskies. The Rams responded with a driving layup from Johnson before the media timeout at 15:59.

Following a three-point play from the Rams, Pecota posted her first points of the afternoon, drilling a shot from beyond the arc to put the score at 16-6 in favor of the Rams. Pecota then cut into the margin with a three-point play, as she was fouled driving to the basket. Two consecutive baskets from VCU pushed the extended the Rams lead to 21-9. Cannon's layup brought the score to 21-11 at the timeout taken with 11:56 left on the clock.

Kerkhof sunk a shot from beyond the arc and Cannon hit a fastbreak layup to bring the Huskies within 10 points, at 26-16. Jacqueline Brewer's three-point field goal and a layup from Hurt extended VCU's lead to 33-16 with just under seven minute to play in the first half.

Cannon netted a pair of free throws and Tiffany Crews followed with a mid-range jumper to knock the margin back down to 15 points, 35-20. VCU followed with an 8-0 run to gain as 23-point advantage with under two minutes left on the clock. Northeastern called for a timeout to halt the Rams' momentum at 1:43, Jewel Tunstull posted her first points of the afternoon to close out the first half with the Rams leading, 43-22.

VCU began the second half with a field goal from Barbour but Mayberry responded for the Huskies with a jumper on the other end. Cannon netted a pair of free throws and Tolbert drove for a field goal to bring the margin to 49-28 at the first whistle blown at 15:50. The Huskies came out of the break with Pecota nailing two-straight baskets.

Two free throws from Cannon and a three-pointer from Kerkhof cut into the Huskies deficit, making the score 52-38. Conroy ended a scoring drought for the Huskies with a driving layup but Hurt retaliated on the other end with a layup for the Rams.

Trailing 58-42, Mayberry notched a layup after pulling down her own rebound. Tolbert followed with a layup in attempt to bring the score to within 10 points, but a pair of free throws from the Rams pushed their lead to 60-46. Hurt converted a three-point play for the Rams then posted another layup following a Huskies turnover to push the lead out to 10 points.

Pecota converted on a pair of opportunities from the charity stripe but a free throw and field goal from the Rams brought the margin to 68-48 with under four minutes to play. The Huskies were unable to bring the margin back below 20 points and the Rams claimed the 79-58 victory.

Northeastern shot 33.3 percent from the floor (19-of-57) while VCU converted on 44.6 percent (29-of-65) of its opportunities. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, as the Huskies posted a 25.0 percent clip and the Rams managed a 26.7 percent mark.

VCU won the battle on the boards, 43-36, and forced the Huskies into 15 turnovers, which turned into 19 points for the Rams.

Northeastern concludes its three-game road swing on Thursday night in Atlanta, Ga. against the Georgia State Panthers. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.