Game 1: Northeastern (0-0) vs. Boston University (0-0)
When	Friday, Nov. 11  |  3 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Cabot Center
Tickets	Tickets
Broadcast and stats	Stats  |  Video
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BOSTON – Beginning its 51st season in program history, the Northeastern women's basketball team is prepared to make its opening statement on a new year as the Huskies' 2016-17 campaign officially tips off at Cabot Center on Friday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m. against Boston University. NU has won four straight contests against the Terriers and five out of its last six games opposite its crosstown rival, having won three straight season openers since 2013.
 
PROMOTIONS
 
In honor of Veteran's Day, all veterans that display their military ID at the Cabot Center ticket entrance will receive free admission to Friday afternoon's women's basketball game, as well as to Friday evening's men's basketball game in Matthews Arena (7 p.m.)
 
Fans in attendance of Friday's women's basketball game will also receive a free camouflage hat, while supplies last.
 
THE HUSKIES ARE BACK
 
Friday will mark eight months to the day since Northeastern last appeared on court during the 2016 CAA semifinals – the furthest the Huskies had ever advanced in the conference tournament during 11 seasons in the league. Under the leadership of second-year head coach Kelly Cole last season, NU boasted a tie for the seventh best win turnaround in Division I, improving by 11 victories to finish with a record of 15-16 (9-9 CAA).
 
Few teams in the CAA were hotter than the Huskies last year after the calendar had turned to February. Beginning with a 52-49, road victory against College of Charleston on Feb. 5, Northeastern rattled off wins during seven of its final nine conference games, including the program's first six-game winning streak since the 2007-08 campaign. Securing the No. 6 seed in the CAA tournament, NU assembled one of its more dominating postseason performances in program history during the league quarterfinals, orchestrating a 65-54 upset against No. 3 Hofstra – the Huskies' first win during its last eight tries opposite the Pride.
 
Northeastern will look to carry over its momentum from the end of the 2015-16 season when the Huskies take the floor for the first time during the new season on Friday against Boston University. NU returns nine players from last year's squad, including three starters: 2016 CAA All-Rookie selections Jess Genco (38.9 minutes, 9.4 points per game) and Gabby Giacone (8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds per game), and senior co-captain Francesca Sally (8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds per game).
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST BOSTON UNIVERSITY
 
Rivals in women's basketball for 40 years, Northeastern will meet Boston University on Friday for the 75th time in program history. Although the Huskies trail the Terriers by four games in the all-time series, 39-35, NU has won five of the six meetings during the current decade and is coming off its most lopsided victory ever against BU: a 77-44, road victory on Nov. 13, 2015. Northeastern has also won each of the last three meetings at Cabot Center.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST THE TERRIERS
 
Tipping off the 2015-16 season on the road against Boston University, Northeastern erased a 15-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter with an outpouring of offense the rest of the way, outscoring the Terriers by a boisterous, 40-point margin during the final three periods to earn a commanding, 77-44 win. Then-senior Samantha DeFreese led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, finishing a rebound shy of a double-double. Making her rookie debut, Gabby Giacone knocked down seven field goals en route to 14 points, while fellow freshman Jess Genco made five steals during 35 minutes of manning the NU point. Then-junior Francesca Sally led the Huskies with 13 rebounds, helping Northeastern swing a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.
 
NORTHEASTERN'S HOT START LAST YEAR
 
Northeastern opened the 2015-16 with three straight non-conference victories, matching the program's longest season-opening winning streak in 33 seasons (1982-83). The Huskies totaled 70 or more points during each of its first two games and held rebound margins of +9 or more during all three contests, including a +14 margin against Boston University (Nov. 13, 2015).
 
NOT YOUR AVERAGE RIVALRY
 
Friday's meeting between Northeastern head coach Kelly Cole and Boston University head coach Katy Steding will be the third all-time between the two former high school foes. Cole and Steding played varsity basketball and volleyball for rival high schools in Portland, Oregon; Cole attended Clackamas High School and St. Mary's Academy, while Steding attended Lake Oswego High School. Although Cole had the upper hand against Steding in high school, winning a couple of state titles, Steding tipped the scale in her favor at the collegiate level. In 1990, Steding won the Pac-10 women's basketball title and national championship at Stanford, the same year that Cole won the Big Ten championship at Northwestern.
 
On Nov. 14, 2014, Cole and Steding found themselves opposite each other once again as they each coached their first career games at the helm of rival Beantown schools. Cole enters Friday's game with a 2-0 head-to-head record against Steding.
 
GENCO NAMED PRESEASON STANDOUT
 
Following a sensational rookie season at Northeastern during 2015-16, Northeastern sophomore point guard Jess Genco was recognized as one of 16 CAA women's basketball players to garner preseason recognition at the conference's Media Day on Oct. 25. Genco, who received 2016 Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention status, ranked second in Division I last season in minutes per game (38.9), starting each of the Huskies' 31 games. The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native led the conference's freshmen with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio during conference games, ranking fifth among all CAA players under the same criteria. Genco was also one of only two sophomores to be recognized by the league on Media Day, joining James Madison's Kayla Cooper-Williams, the defending CAA Rookie of the Year.
 
HUSKIES PICKED SEVENTH IN CAA
 
Northeastern finished within the middle tier of the 2016-17 CAA preseason coaches poll, receiving 41 points and the seventh position, eight points behind fourth-place Hofstra and six points behind the two tied fifth-place teams, Delaware and William & Mary. Last season, NU outperformed its 10th place projection prior to the 2015-16 season, winning nine conference games and ending the year in sole possession of sixth place in the final league standings. At the CAA tournament, the Huskies were one of the four teams remaining in contention for the conference championship and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Huskies will play travel to Buffalo, New York, on Sunday, Nov. 13, for their first road game of the season against Canisius. Sunday's game will be air live on ESPN3 beginning at 2 p.m.