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TOWSON, Md. – Francesca Sally recorded a double-double, Kazzidy Stewart tied her season high of 16 points, but the Huskies suffered a tough setback to the Towson Tigers, 65-61, on Thursday, Jan. 22.
 
The double-double is Sally's third of the season. Her night wrapped up with 12 points and 13 rebounds, just one shy of her career high. Stewart, who was making her fifth start of the season, had a stellar performance of her own, scoring 16 points and chipping in five rebounds.
 
Northeastern trailed at halftime, but came out firing to start the second half. The team battled the Tigers each and every possession, but Towson was able to hold on at the end.
 
Samantha DeFreese finished with 14 points, going five-for-11 from the floor. She fell just short of a double-double with eight rebounds. All in all, seven Huskies finished with at least three points. Loren Lassiter, in her first career start, registered a career-high eight rebounds. The freshman had several clutch boards down the stretch.
 
The team ended its night shooting 37 percent, making 19 of its 51 field goals. They outrebounded the Tigers by eight, 45-37, and dominated in both points in the point, 20-16, and bench points, 17-4.
 
The Huskies had a tremendous night moving the ball, finishing with 16 assists. Senior Amencie Mercier had four assists to pace the team.
 
The Huskies, utilizing a starting five of Mercier, Maureen Taggart, Stewart, Lassiter and Sally, got off to a quick start against the Tigers, jumping out to an 11-5 lead in the game's first five minutes. Following buckets from Mercier, Sally and Stewart, the Huskies widened their lead to seven points, 18-11, their largest lead of the first half, with 12 minutes to go. 
 
The Tigers would battle back, but Northeastern answered each of Towson's baskets with one of its own. The two teams went back and forth during the remaining 12 minutes, with Towson leading by two, 40-38, as the opening stanza came to a close.
 
DeFreese had a stellar first half, accounting 10 pints and four rebounds. She connected on five of her six shots from the floor. Along with the forward, Northeastern had two players – Stewart and Mercier – finish the first half with seven points, while Sally chipped in five points of her own.
 
As a team, the Huskies shot 53 percent in the first half -- their second-best performance in a single half this seaosn -- going 15-for-28 from the floor. NU also enjoyed success from downtown, netting four of its eight attempts. Cole's team outrebounded Towson, 20-19, and scored 18 points in the paint to eight from Towson.
 
The Huskies will now focus on their upcoming game against the Elon Phoenix on Sunday, Jan. 25. That game is slated for a 3 p.m. start and will be available for fans to watch on the American Sports Network. Local listings will be provided shortly. Northeastern then returns home for a showdown with Hofstra on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. The last time the Pride and Huskies met it was a thrilling overtime game.  

Game Notes
• Francesca Sally recorded her third double-double.
• Maureen Taggart and Loren Lassiter made the first start of their careers. 
• Samantha DeFreese has now scored 96 points during the last six games. 
• The Huskies 53 percent shooting in the first half is the second-best shooting performance this season.

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