Box Score | Season Stats | Infographic

DURHAM, N.H. – Riding two career-best scoring performances by Samantha DeFreese (29 points) and Jess Genco (21), the Northeastern women's basketball team improved to 4-2 overall on Wednesday night as the Huskies trounced New Hampshire, 66-54.
 
DeFreese's eight rebounds were an understatement to her 85.7 percent field-goal percentage (12-of-14), a performance that ranks as one of the top 10 shooting displays in program history (tied for ninth best all-time). The NU senior from Bergenfield, New Jersey unloaded 14 points in the second quarter alone on a perfect six-of-six shooting.
 
Genco, whose previous game high was 13 points, drained five 3-pointers for the Huskies en route to 21 points, a steal and an assist. Together with DeFreese, the NU duo shot 62.5 percent from the floor and scored 50 of the Huskies' 66 total points.
 
Trailing New Hampshire (5-2) by two with 6:33 to play in the second quarter, Northeastern (4-2) closed out the first half on a 15-2 run and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way. NU would also score the final 10 points of the third quarter to build a 20-point edge at 49-29, and held off the surging Wildcats in the fourth to claim its third double-digit victory of the season.
 
Francseca Sally and Gabriella Giacone each collected six rebounds on the night, while the two post players notched four and three points, respectively. Te'Erica Eason recorded six points off the bench, while Zoe Zwerling and Claudia Ortiz rounded out the day's scoring for the Huskies.
 
Elizabeth Belanger led New Hampshire with 27 points on eight-of-18 shooting, while Carlie Pogue achievd a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. UNH committed four more turnovers than NU at a margin of 15-11 and surrendered 32 points in the paint to the Huskies.
 
Baskets by Sally and DeFreese during the opening minutes of the first awarded Northeastern a quick 4-0 lead, before Ortiz split a pair of free throws to push the Huskies' lead to five Maureen Taggart's first start was shadowed by a second team foul occurring seven minutes into the period, but the NU sophomore still showcased her hustle and dove hard to win the Huskies a loose ball late in the quarter.
 
Northeastern's court vision was on point as the second quarter arrived. Calling for the ball in transition, Giacone received a half-court pass from Genco in the paint and immediately fired the ball to DeFreese, who nailed the jumper from the top of the key to tie the game at 13-13. DeFreese went on to score 10 of the Huskies' next 17 points, helping send NU to a 30-22 halftime lead.
 
Genco opened the third-quarter scoring at 7:58 with her second 3-pointer of the game, propelling the Huskies to an 11-point edge. The NU point guard would ultimately score eight points in the third period, matching her previous season high with a full 10 minutes left in the game.
 
UNH sprung back into the contest during the final quarter as the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to pull within 11 at 49-38. While Genco was able to knock down another 3-pointer to boost the Huskies' lead to 14, New Hampshire snuck back within single digits with just under six minutes remaining. Strong defense by Northeastern would assure that UNH came no closer as NU scored 17 points in the fourth to wrap up a 66-54 road victory.
 
Northeastern will return home to Cabot Center on Friday, Dec. 4, for a 12 p.m. game against Maine.

STATS OF THE GAME
-Northeastern outscored New Hampshire, 38-18 during the second and third quarters.
-The Huskies are undefeated in true road games this season at 4-0.
-Neither New Hampshire nor Northeastern has been able to win two consecutive games in the all-time series since NU left the America East conference at the start of the 2005-06 season. UNH had won the last meeting on Dec. 22, 2014, 63-62.
-Northeastern improved its record in the all-time series against New Hampshire to 33-34.
-NU head coach Kelly Cole is now 2-2 all-time against America East programs.