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BOSTON – Showcasing high defensive intensity from start to finish, the Northeastern women's basketball team kept Siena steadily at bay on Wednesday afternoon at Cabot Center as the Huskies won their second consecutive game by a score of 61-50.
 
NU set a plethora of season-low defensive marks against the Saints, including points allowed (50), opposing field goals (15), and opposing field-goal percentage (27.3). The Huskies manned the paint particularly well during the first half, sending the visitors to the locker room with a 14.8 field-goal percentage and without a made 2-point field goal (11 attempts).
 
Northeastern (4-8) pounced on Siena (2-9) early during the first quarter, beginning the afternoon on a 17-4 run while limiting the Saints to only one basket from the floor during the opening seven and a half minutes. Although Siena would proceed to score eight unanswered points across the first and second quarters, the Huskies' successfully regained their 13-point edge before the end of the half, carrying a 28-18 advantage into the break.
 
Besides the Saints' 8-2 run to start the second half that whittled Northeastern's lead to four points, 30-26, with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter, NU held Siena back by at least five points the rest of the way, claiming the wire-to-wire victory.
 
Claudia Ortiz led the Huskies with 13 points, earning eight of them from the charity stripe. Jess Genco followed Ortiz with 12 points and three steals, while Francesca Sally registered 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
 
Northeastern's forwards combined for all but three of the Huskies' 11 steals - the second most NU has charted this season (12). Gabby Giacone's four steals equated to a career high for the sophomore, while Loren Lassiter stole two balls, in addition to hustling for a team high, five offensive rebounds. Maureen Taggart produced half of the Huskies' four blocks while charting six points, six rebounds, and a steal as well.
 
Meghan Donohue led the Saints with a double-double, totaling 18 points and 11 rebounds. Donohue threaded through eight free throws, but committed four of Siena's 19 turnovers. Jackie Benitez tallied 14 points courtesy of three 3-pointers, while Karolina Severova finished with seven points and three rebounds.
 
NOTEWORTHY
 
• Northeastern will head into 2017 and begin its 18-game CAA slate riding consecutive non-conference victories against Denver (Dec. 20) and Siena (Dec. 28).
• Siena's 27.3 field-goal percentage is the lowest mark Northeastern has opposed since Nov. 27, 2012, when Dartmouth posted a mere 25.0 percent shooting clip against the Huskies.
• Two technical fouls were charged during the game: one to Siena head coach Ali Jacques with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter, and one to Francesca Sally with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
• With Wednesday's victory, Northeastern has leveled the all-time series against Siena at 4-4. NU has also won two straight games against the Saints (Nov. 15, 2015).
• The Huskies set a season high in free throw attempts, making 28 uncontested heaves during Wednesday's game. NU also improved to 3-0 this season when knocking down at least 19 free throws.