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BOSTON – Led by sophomore Jess Genco's career-high, 27-point performance, the Northeastern women's basketball team cruised to a 78-59, wire-to-wire victory against rival Boston University on Friday afternoon during the Huskies' season opener at Cabot Center.
 
Genco knocked down nine of her 12 field goal attempts from the floor, draining seven 3-pointers to tie the Huskies' single-game record. The NU point guard played 37 minutes, finishing with six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Her fellow NU captain, Francesca Sally, charted 17 points during her senior-season debut, hauling in six rebounds as well.
 
As a team, Northeastern (1-0) shot 42 percent (25-of-59) from the floor and buried 12 3-pointers, equaling the Huskies' season high from a year ago. NU also converted on 16 of its 17 free throw attempts, remaining perfect during its first 14 heaves of the day.
 
In addition to Genco and Sally, sophomores Zoe Zwerling and Gabby Giacone were both among Northeastern's starting rotation, while true freshman Shannon Todd rounded out the first five, making her collegiate debut. Zwerling, who was also making her first career start at NU, tallied seven points and four assists, two of which resulted in buckets by Giacone.
 
Loren Lassiter dominated the boards for the Huskies, pacing the squad with seven rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. Her 28 bench minutes on Friday were also a team high. Clauida Ortiz went three-of-four from the floor, registering 10 points, two assists, and a steal.
 
Sarah Hope and Corrine Williams each led the Terriers with 13 points apiece, while Courtney Latham powered 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists off the bench.
 
QUARTER RECAPS
 
• First Quarter: Francesca Sally's layup on the first possession of the game put the Huskies in the driver's seat early, spurring a 6-0 run that forced Boston University into burning a timeout less than three minutes in. After the Terriers had closed the gap to 6-5, Zoe Zwerling, Sally, and Claudia Ortiz connected on three straight 3-point shots that distanced the Huskies by 12 points, while Sally's second make from behind the perimeter capped off a streak of 16 unanswered points for the home team. NU scored 15 of its 24 points off turnovers and also earned 14 second-chance points. 
 
• Second Quarter: Jess Genco scored 10 of her 27 points during the second stanza, finding her touch from long range. The Huskies led by as many as 17 points with 9:13 remaining in the half, but maintained a steady, double-digit lead throughout the quarter. Claudia Ortiz was fouled on a 3-point try during the closing seconds and proceeded to knock down all three of her free throws, giving NU a 43-27 halftime lead.
 
• Third Quarter: Northeastern widened the gap to 20 points following four straight free throw makes to start the second half by Gabby Giacone and Francesca Sally. Boston University enjoyed its best offensive quarter of the afternoon, scoring 19 points, but could not hold back the Huskies, who piled on another 22 points to lead comfortably, 65-46, at the end of three.
 
• Fourth Quarter: Off to a hot start yet again, two 3-pointers by Jess Genco lifted NU to its largest lead of the game, 73-50, with 6:02 remaining in regulation. BU successfully whittled the Huskies' lead back to 16 during the final minutes, but Northeastern was well on its way to claiming the season-opening victory.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will head to Canisius on Sunday, Nov. 13, for a 2 p.m. tipoff against the Golden Griffins.