Box Score • Season Statistics • Infographic • Press Conference BOSTON – The Northeastern Huskies fell to the visiting New Hampshire Wildcats, 63-62, in Cabot Center on Monday, Dec. 22.
The Wildcats' Kristen Anderson hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired on the clock.
The Huskies (2-6, 0-0) and Wildcats (7-3, 0-0) went back and forth during the course of the game, with the Huskies leading by as many as 20 early in the second half. Northeastern utilized a 17-0 run over a 14-minute span to push its lead up to a game-high 20 points with 13 minutes remaining.
UNH and NU then traded buckets as the Huskies found themselves up by 19 with 8:32 left in the competition.
Kelly Cole's squad then entered a shooting slump, going one-for-nine from the floor for seven minutes, allowing the Wildcats to get back into the game.
With 1:43 left,
Amencie Mercier made a lay-up to push the Huskies lead to three points, 57-54. Tough defense from NU forced a turnover with 57 seconds left. The Wildcats fouled
A'lece Mark, who hit both her free-throw attempts to widen the gap to five, 59-54. New Hampshire's Aliza Simpson converted on a 3-pointer to bring it back within two with 17 seconds left. Mercier was then intentionally fouled and made one-of-two from the charity stripe, putting the Huskies up, 60-57. The next possession, UNH's Anderson hit another 3-pointer to tie it at 60. Mercier was fouled again, made both free throws to go up by two, but Anderson hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
The Huskies were paced by Mercier's 15 points in the setback. The senior connected on five-of-nine from the floor, including one-of-three from downtown. She had an outstanding day at the free-throw line, connecting on four of her five attempts.
Along with Mercier, Cole relied on the hot hands of freshman
Maureen Taggart and junior
Samantha DeFreese for production. The two scored 11 points apiece. Mark chipped in nine points of her own, while
Kazzidy Stewart and
Tanisha Hopewell both added five.
The Huskies had a strong game shooting-wise, going 22-of-56 from the floor, highlighted by hitting seven of their 17 attempts from beyond the arc. As a team, they forced New Hampshire into 23 turnovers, the Wildcats entered the competition averaging a little more than 13 per game. Both teams finished with eight steals, while UNH won the rebound battle 38-32.
Northeastern opened with a strong half to begin the game. The team shot 12-of-29 from the floor en route to a 34-26 lead over the Wildcats. The highlight offensively, however, was NU"s shooting from beyond the arc where the Huskies hit on six-of-12 attempts.
Pacing Northeastern was Taggart with eight. She connected on three-of-five field goals, including two-of-four from downtown. Along with Taggart, Mark chipped in six points, Stewart added five, while
Francesca Sally scored three point. All in all, eight different Huskies scored a point in the first half.
The opening 20 minutes was the Huskies' strongest showing defensively of the season. The team forced New Hampshire into 13 turnovers. Mercier, Hopewell,
Loren Lassiter, DeFreese and Taggart all registered a steal in the opening half.
Northeastern now takes a quick break for the upcoming holiday, but will return to action against Albany on Sunday, Dec. 28. The Huskies' game against the Great Danes will start at 2 p.m. and is the first of four straight on the road. Following their matchup against Albany, next on the docket is a New Years Eve showdown against crosstown rival Boston College. The Huskies and Eagles will square off at 1 p.m.
Game Notes• Freshmen Maureen Taggart and Loren Lassiter set new career highs with 11 and three points, respectively.
• The Huskies are now 2-1 at home this season.
• Eight Huskies scored at least one point.
• Northeastern is now 0-2 against the America East conference this season.
• NU doesn't return home again until Jan. 9 for a showdown against James Madison. For complete coverage of Northeastern women's basketball, follow us on Facebook (GoNUwbasketball), Twitter (@GoNUwbasketball), and Instagram (@GoNUwbasketball). The Huskies also run their own blog, The Husky Huddle, for fans eager to learn more about the team and hear from the coaches and players directly.
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