Box Score • Season Statistics • Infographic

BOSTON – The Northeastern Huskies defeated the UNCW Seahawks, 73-64, on Friday night to earn their first Colonial Athletic Association victory of the season.
 
The Huskies utilized one of their strongest shooting performances of the season to down their rival, finishing with a 39 percent mark from the floor. Kelly Cole's squad went 21-for-53 during the 40 minutes of action, including a mark of seven-for-17 from downtown.
 
All in all, the Huskies (4-11, 1-4) led the Seahawks (6-10, 2-3) for 36 minutes.
 
At the top of the stat sheet for NU was Samantha DeFreese. The junior finished with 21 points, on eight-of-12 shooting, highlighted by going two-of-three from downtown. She added seven rebounds and an assist to her stat line.
 
Just behind the Bergenfield, New Jersey, native was guard A'lece Mark. The senior ended her night with a double-double – her third of the season – accounting for 17 points and 10 boards. Kazzidy Stewart, Francesca Sally and Amencie Mercier also contributed solid performances in the win. 
 
Stewart, who made her fourth start of the year, finished with a season-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds and one assist. Sally nearly chipped in a double-double, falling just short with nine points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Huskies jumped out to a five-point lead four minutes in and never looked back. The ball movement from Cole's team was terrific, resulting in open looks. Northeastern knocked down its open looks, pushing its lead to as many as 13 points.
 
The Seahawks were able to cut the lead to just one point with 10 minutes to go in the half, but NU kept its composure and maintained a lead en route to the victory.
 
NU held the advantage in rebounds, 42-38, as well as points in the point, 22-20, and points off turnovers, 11-9. They held UNCW to just 36 percent shooting from the floor, and forced them into 18 turnovers.
 
Northeastern put together a very strong first half, highlighted by shooting 46 percent from the floor, a new season high for the opening half. As a team, the Huskies connected on 12 of their 26 shots, including five-for-11 from downtown. Northeastern won several statistical battles during the course of the first half, outscoring UNCW in the paint by a 10-6 margin, and registering 10 points off of turnovers to just four by the Seahawks.
 
Pacing the Huskies was DeFreese, who had 10 points in the opening stanza. She went four-for-four from the floor, including a perfect two-for-two from the charity stripe. She also chipped in two rebounds, one assist and one steal. DeFreese was aided by Stewart, Mark and Sally. Stewart and Mark added seven points apiece, while the sophomore Sally contributed six points of her own.
 
The Huskies are now set to begin a three-game road trip, starting on Sunday against new CAA foe College of Charleston. That game will be played at the TD Arena and tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Following that matchup, Cole and her team head to Towson for a showdown with the Tigers on Thursday, Jan. 22, and then to Elon to meet the CAA's newest member on Sunday, Jan. 24. Thursday's game is set to begin at 7 p.m. while Sunday is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
 
Game Notes
• This is A'lece Mark's third double-double of the season.
• Kazzidy Stewart recorded a new season high of 16 points.
• The Huskies are now 1-4 in conference play.
• Northeastern pushes its advantage in the all-time series to 9-7. 

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