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PHILADELPHIA – Freshman Jess Genco's game-tying, three-point play with 3.2 seconds remaining in regulation catapulted the Northeastern women's basketball team into overtime on Friday night, where the Huskies shut out Drexel, 8-0, to earn a hard-fought, 73-65 CAA road win.
 
Samantha DeFreese led Northeastern (6-7, 1-1 CAA) with 18 points and 13 rebounds, shooting eight-of-14 from the floor and scoring 12 points after halftime. Sophomore Claudia Ortiz stuffed the stat sheets with 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three 3-pointers, while Francesca Sally notched 13 points and hauled in seven boards.
 
The Huskies came close to setting a new program rebounding record on Friday, collecting 56 boards overall, two fewer than the school's all-time best (58). Northeastern's 24 offensive rebounds did end up becoming a season high by the end of the night, with DeFreese, Sally, and Kazzidy Stewart each exceeding three. Stewart was also a rock defensively, creating four steals, the most she has instigated in 11 games this season.
 
Genco filled up the triple-double categories quite well against Drexel (5-8, 1-1 CAA), collecting eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The rookie point guard, who entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in minutes per game, played all 45 minutes against the Dragons, converting on each of her three free-throw attempts during the final 5:03 of game time.
 
Drexel showcased its league-leading, 3-point field-goal percentage during the second half, connecting on 69.2 percent (nine-of-13) from beyond the arc. Both the Huskies (16-of-29) and Dragons (14-of-22) shot better than 55 percent from the field during the third and fourth quarters, with Drexel piling on baskets at a rate of 63.6 percent.
 
Meghan Creighton paced the Dragons with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while center Jackie Schluth rivaled Stewart's defensive performance with four blocks and four steals. Rachel Pearson walked away with 14 points and three assists as well.
 
Northeastern and Drexel battled back-and-forth for most of the way, playing the entire game within an eight-point margin. After building a 10-7 lead against the Huskies during the first four minutes of the contest, the NU defense shut down the Dragons, keeping them scoreless while running in front before the horn, 13-10.
 
Following Stewart's 3-pointer that awarded the Huskies an 18-16 lead with 6:12 to go in the half, Drexel responded with a 7-1 run to pull ahead, 23-19. Ortiz helped steer Northeastern back into the game by halftime, hitting two key free throws before unloading a 3-pointer with 66 seconds left in the quarter.
 
With Sally picking up her third personal foul midway through the third, momentum began to swing back towards the Dragons as Creighton put Drexel ahead, 36-31, with 4:14 remaining. Kelly Cole's timeout after the shot proved to be key for NU as the Huskies scored seven unanswered points to grab a 38-36 lead.
 
DeFreese tied the game up for the fifth time at 44-44 on the opening possession of the fourth with a jumper, and Sally helped bring the game level again at 49-49 a minute later by completing an old-fashioned, three-point play at the line. With the Huskies keeping a steady advantage as the quarter went on, Drexel's Alexis Smith knotted the game at 59-59 with 1:39 to play with a big shot from downtown.
 
After Stewart hit another clutch 3-pointer to put Northeastern in front, 62-61, with 1:17 remaining, a defensive miscue and successive turnover left the Dragons seeing victory. However, with under 10 seconds left in regulation, Genco made a drive through the lane and was fouled as her floater fell through the net. She sunk the ensuing free-throw to send the game into overtime, tied at 65-65.
 
During the extra period, Northeastern pummeled the Dragons on the boards, 11-3, and locked down defensively, forcing Drexel into coming up empty on 11 field-goal attempts. DeFreese scored four during overtime as the Huskies came away with their first CAA victory of the season.
 
NU will travel to Delaware next on Sunday, Jan. 10, for a 2 p.m. conference game against the Blue Hens.
 
STATS OF THE GAME
- Northeastern's 56 rebounds were two shy of the program record, 58, set on Nov. 30, 2003 against Quinnipiac.
- The Huskies picked up their first overtime win since Feb. 23, 2014, coincidentally also against Drexel.
- Samantha DeFreese eclipsed the 900-career-point milestone on Friday, ending the game with 906 career points.
- NU had at least four players score in double figures for the second consecutive game.
- Northeastern earned its first road win at Drexel since Jan. 28, 2000, when the two teams were members of the America East conference. Friday was the first time NU had won at Drexel as a member of the CAA.
- Northeastern is now 4-0 in true road games this season.