Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. –Senior center Jewel Tunstull logged a career-best 29 points to lead all scorers as the Northeastern women's basketball team (9-14, 3-7 CAA) defeated Colonial Athletic Association newcomer College of Charleston (12-12, 5-6 CAA), 61-53, on Sunday afternoon at TD Arena.

"I am very proud of Jewel. We challenged her a couple days ago to play a lot better and to be a lot more active and she has answered the call for the past two games," said head coach Daynia La-Force.

Tunstull added 14 rebounds to notch her league-leading ninth double-double of the season. Tiffany Montagne and A'lece Mark joined Brooklyn, N.Y., native in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Amencie Mercier added five points, three assists and a steal, while Tanisha Hopewell and Kazzidy Stewart contributed five points, collectively.

Breanna Bolden led Charleston with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Afreyea Tolbert tallied 11 points.

The Cougars held the Huskies scoreless through the first six minutes of play. Montagne logged NU's first bucket after breaking Charleston's 8-point run with a layup in the seventh minute before draining a 3-pointer to close the gap to four. With 12:38 on the clock, Montagne triggered an 8-0 run, capped with a jump shot in the paint, to give the Huskies their first lead of the game, 10-9.

The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch, showcasing nine lead changes, but a 6-0 surge, highlighted by four points from Mark, extended Northeastern's advantage, 23-18. CofC chipped away at the deficit, but could not come closer than one for the rest of the games. A 3-pointer from Hopewell sent NU ahead by six, good for its largest lead of the frame, 30-24. With six seconds left, Charleston's Afreyea Tolber landed a jumper, but Northeastern entered the break with a 32-38 lead.

Charleston's Alysas Frye opened the second stanza with a 3-pointer, but the Huskies maintained their lead as the neither team could string together consecutive shots. The Cougars came within one in the 28th and 31st minute, but Northeastern recorded seven points to widen the gap, 48-40.

In the last four minutes of the game, NU held Charleston to just four points as Northeastern walked away with a 61-53 victory.

For the game, the Huskies connected on 39 percent (21-54) of its shots, including 23 percent (5-22) from beyond the arc, and 78 percent (14-18) from the charity stripe. Charleston shot 32 percent (21-65) from the field, 21 percent (3-14) from 3-point range, and 50 percent (8-16) from the free-throw line. The Cougars won the rebounding battle, 45-38.

The Huskies return to Cabot Center when they host William & Mary on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m.

Game Notes
• Jewel Tunstull recorded a career-best 29 points to lead all scorers and added14 rebounds, good for her league-leading ninth double-double.
• A'lece Mark logged her 13th double-figure scoring game with 10 points.
• Tiffany Montagne notched her 10th career double-digit scoring game with 12 points.
• The Huskies are 8-0 when leading at halftime.
• With the win, Northeastern evened the all-time series against the Cougars, 1-1.

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