Box Score • Season Statistics • Infographic • Press ConferenceELON, N.C. – In what was their second consecutive strong performance, the Northeastern Huskies dropped a tough game in overtime to the Elon Phoenix, 80-77, on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Kelly Cole and her team showcased their mental toughness and grittiness by battling back from down 18 points in the second half to force an overtime period.
Samantha DeFreese finished her night with a career-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds. The Bergenfield, New Jersey, native scored 13 points in the final 14 minutes to help the Huskies push the game into extra time.
Kazzidy Stewart connected on a game-tying 3-pointer with 64 seconds remaining in the action. Tough defense from Cole's team resulted in contested looks for the Phoenix to close out the second stanza.
In the overtime period, Elon (12-7, 5-3) held a four-point lead, 77-73, with 98 seconds to go.
Francesca Sally converted on a layup to bring Northeastern within two. On the other end of the court, Elon's Zora Stephenson went one-for-two after an intentional foul, giving the Huskies the ball back down by three. Stewart hit a layup with three seconds left to bring it within one, but two free throws by the Phoenix secured the overtime victory.
The game was tied nine times, and featured five lead changes.
Northeastern (4-14, 1-7) had three players finish in double figures in DeFreese with 26, Stewart with 19 and
Amencie Mercier with 13. Stewart's 19 points are a new season-high.
Maureen Taggart, in her second start of the season, added nine points of her own, while
Francesca Sally chipped in eight points in the setback.
It was the Huskies' second straight game with a strong performance. The team finished shooting 48 percent from the floor, connecting on 29 of its 60 shots, including eight-of-20 from beyond the arc. The Huskies were outrebounded by seven, 41-34, but the team's bench outscored Elon by four, 28-24.
The opening stanza was a classic half of CAA basketball. The Huskies and Phoenix traded buckets, resulting in six ties and three lead changes, as Northeastern trailed Elon by eight, 38-30, as it came to a close. Northeastern's largest lead was five, which came with four minutes to go, while Elon's was eight.
The Huskies had several players contribute in the game's first 20 minutes; six players registered at least two points. Mercier paced Northeastern with 10, connecting on four of her six shots, including two-for-three from beyond the arc.
Along with the senior, Taggart chipped in six points of her own, connecting on two shots from downtown, while DeFreese and Sally both added five points apiece.
Loren Lassiter built on her career performance against Towson by contributing five rebounds in the first half, a game high.
It was another hot-shooting performance from the Huskies to open the game. The team connected on 12 of its 25 attempts from the floor, including five-for-10 from range.
Cole and her team finally return home to Cabot Center after spending five days on the road. The team welcomes Hofstra on Thursday, Jan. 29 for a 7 p.m. showdown. The last time the Huskies and Pride met, the game went into overtime in Hempstead, New York. Three days later, the Tribe of William and Mary arrive on Huntington Avenue for a 2 p.m. tip. That will be the first time the Huskies and Tribe meet this season.
Game Notes• Samantha DeFreese finished with a career-high 26 points.
• Kazzidy Stewart posted a season-high 19 points.
• Northeastern trailed by as many as 18 in the game.
• The Huskies have now played in two overtime games this season.
• Six Huskies scored at least two points.
• The teams tied in points in the paint, 30-30.
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