Box Score • Season Statistics • Infographic 

Orono, MAINE – Despite a strong second-half shooting performance, the Northeastern Huskies suffered a 60-51 setback to the University of Maine Black Bears at the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday, Dec. 13.
 
The Huskies (2-4, 0-0) played well down the stretch to put themselves within striking distance of Maine (7-3, 0-0), but several late buckets from the Black Bears secured the victory. 
 
NU was paced by Tiffany Montagne's 17 points in the loss. The junior guard converted on six-of-13 shots from the floor, including five-of-nine from downtown. She scored 12 second-half points to help guide the Huskies back into the game, nine of which came in the final three minutes.
 
Northeastern also relied on the production of Amencie Mercier, who finished with 13 points on four-of-10 shooting. Along with Mercier, the Huskies also received solid contributions from A'lece Mark and Tanisha Hopewell, both of who finished with eight points, respectively.
 
Head coach Kelly Cole and her team came alive offensively with a little more than four minutes to go. Down by 19, the team went on a 12-3 run to bring it within 10. The team's defense had been strong throughout the course of the game, and was a major reason the Huskies were able to put themselves in a position to get back into the game.
 
With just less than two minutes of action left, the Huskies found themselves down by just nine. The Black Bears, however, answered the Huskies' offensive run with several buckets of their own over the game's final minutes. NU would get as close as seven points away from tying, but free throws from Maine helped the Black Bears earn the victory.
 
As a team, Northeastern shot 15-of-49 from the floor for a 30.6 shooting percentage. The Huskies connected on seven-of-22 3-pointers, five of which came from Montagne, and went 14-of-18 from the free-throw line. Coach Cole's squad was outrebounded by Maine, 33-32, while both teams committed 16 turnovers.
 
The first half was an offensive struggle for both teams as they combined to go 14-of-43 from the floor. Pacing the Huskies was Samantha DeFreese with five points on one-of-three shooting, but she connected on three-of-four from the free-throw line.
 
The Huskies' defense was the story of the first half. NU showcased its pressure-based attack and forced the Black Bears into nine turnovers. They registered three steals – one each from Montagne, Mark and Hopewell – leading to five points for the red and black.
 
Northeastern also had a strong performance on the glass, outrebounding Maine by an 18-14 margin. The Black Bears held the largest lead of the first half, 19-13, but a strong closing four minutes brought the Huskies within four as the opening stanza came to a close.
 
Northeastern now returns to the practice floor for a week before heading across town to Harvard for a showdown on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. It will be a reunion of sorts for head coach Kelly Cole as she spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the Crimson. Two days later, on Monday, Dec. 22, The Huskies return home for the first time in a month when the team plays host to the Wildcats of New Hampshire. That game is slated to begin at 2 p.m. 

Game Notes
• The Huskies are now 21-33 all-time vs. the Black Bears.
• This is the second time this season Tiffany Montagne has paced the Huskies in scoring. 
• Northeastern is now 0-2 in true road games this season. 

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