Box Score | Season Stats | Infographic

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Freshman forward Gabby Giacone delivered 13 points and 11 rebounds to the Northeastern women's basketball team during a back-and-forth road game against William & Mary on Sunday that ended with the Tribe in front, 69-62.
 
In addition to picking up her fourth career double-double and second in as many games, Giacone set a new career best for rebounding, finishing with six defensive boards and five more on the offensive glass. The Delmar, New York, native also shot six-of-nine against William & Mary, blocked two shots, and fought her way to a steal and an assist.
 
Samantha DeFreese paced Northeastern (7-13, 2-7 CAA) with 16 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and a block, converting on seven of her 10 attempts from the field. Tiffany Montagne extended her double-digit scoring streak to three straight games, contributing 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
 
First-year guards Jess Geno and Zoe Zwerling had their work cut out for them all afternoon dealing with the Tribe's press, but both ended with four assists apiece. In addition, Genco chased down six rebounds and created two steals, while Zwerling drained two 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater that occurred at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Huskies' inside game was strong throughout the entire game against William & Mary (13-7, 4-5 CAA) as NU boasted a 26-22 scoring advantage in the paint. However, Northeastern had difficulty getting to the line, especially during the second half, as the Huskies attempted 10 of their 11 free throws during the second quarter.
 
Having shot a mere three-of-22 against Northeastern on Jan. 15, Preseason All-CAA Second Team guard Marlena Tremba went off for 20 points, hitting four shots from behind the arc. Alexandra Masaquel (12 points) and Bianca Boggs (11) represented the Tribe's starters well on Sunday, while Latrice Hunter scored 15 points off the bench.
 
After Masaquel's made jumper three minutes in had put the first points on the scoreboard for either team, Giacone jumpstarted the Huskies' offense with baskets on two straight possessions, giving NU an early 4-2 lead that it carried under the five-minute mark of the quarter. Although William & Mary soon ascended to an 18-10 advantage courtesy of four 3-pointers, including three by Tremba, Genco's inbound pass with 1.2 seconds to go found Zwerling for an open three, slashing the Tribe's lead to 18-13.
 
Trailing, 25-15, early in the second, Northeastern assembled a 9-0 run that brought the Huskies to within one with 4:35 remaining in the opening half. Solid free-throw shooting by Lassiter and Montagne helped NU whittle away to as much as a three-point edge, before the game became knotted up at 31-31 going into the locker rooms.
 
Northeastern held leads at 40-35 and 43-38 as the second half began, but a three-minute scoring drought by the Huskies allowed William & Mary to tie the game at 43-43 with 3:19 left in the third. Montagne's layup during the final 40 seconds of the third awarded NU a three-point lead at 49-46, but an acrobatic three-point play by Tremba with two ticks remaining brought the two teams level for a fifth time at 49-49.
 
William & Mary took the lead for the final time on its very first possession of the fourth quarter, utilizing a 12-5 run to bulld a seven-point lead. The Huskies would come as close as 64-62 on Zwerling's 3-pointer, but Tremba responded with her fourth three of the game shorty after, solidifying the win for the Tribe.
 
Northeastern will continue its conference schedule on Friday, Feb. 5 at College of Charleston.
 
STATS OF THE GAME
- William & Mary (first quarter) and Northeastern (second) traded identical 18-13 score lines during the first half of Sunday's game.
- NU blocked seven shots, tying a season high set on Jan. 15 (also against William & Mary). During the 2015-16 season, the Huskies have outblocked the Tribe, 14-7.
- Gabby Giacone notched her fourth career double-double on Sunday and second in as many games. Giacone has now registered 10 points or more during 12 of her first 20 career games and has finished with 10 rebounds on four different occasions.
- Northeastern and William & Mary have split the 2015-16 regular-season series at 1-1, with the home team winning both games.
- With a team high, 16-point effort against the Tribe, Samantha DeFreese ended the day with 972 career points and is now 28 points away from 1,000.
- NU shot above the 40-percent threshold for the eight time this season (the Huskies are 6-2 in those games).