Box Score | Season Stats | Infographic

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Samantha DeFreese, Gabby Giacone, Kazzidy Stewart, and Claudia Ortiz each ended Friday night with double-digit point totals as the Northeastern women's basketball team defeated UNCW, 72-66, at Trask Coliseum.
 
The Huskies orchestrated a dominating, 23-3, run during a 12-minute stretch during the second half, wiping out a six-point third-quarter deficit and distancing themselves by 14 points (61-47) with seven minutes left in regulation. Northeastern (9-14, 4-8 CAA) held UNCW (7-16, 3-9 CAA) to just two made field goals during the third quarter, outscoring the Seahawks by a 19-6 margin.
 
DeFreese came within three points of her career high, 29, but finished with a game high, 26 points, on 10-of-13 shooting. With 10 rebounds, she double-doubled for the third consecutive game, while adding three blocks, three steals, and going a perfect six-of-six from the foul line.
 
Giacone brought down six of the Huskies' 16 offensive boards and worked her way to 14 points, seven rebounds, and a block. Stewart hit each of her first three 3-point shots en route to a 13-point evening on five-of-seven shooting from the floor. Ortiz scored 12 points and nearly double-doubled herself, ending with eight rebounds.

Point guard Jess Genco added another 40 minutes of work to her season account, stuffing the stat sheets with six rebounds, five assists, four points, and a steal.
 
Northeastern established a post presence early in the game, picking up points in the paint on four of its first five possessions. By the final horn, NU had sported a 40-20 advantage in the colored wood. The Huskies also achieved a +13 rebounding margin, their highest since Jan. 8 against Drexel (+33).
 
Shatia Cole led UNCW with 18 points, five assists, and two steals, while Jasmine Steele recorded 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Only six Seahawks saw court time against the Huskies on Friday, with all six players appearing for at least 28 minutes.
 
NU opened the game on a 13-2 run, dropping 11 unanswered points on the Seahawks and forcing UNCW to call for time just three minutes into the first quarter. Both teams enjoyed strong shooting displays out of the timeout as Ortiz and Madison Raque traded 3-pointers before Cole, Ortiz, and Steele went back-and-forth, connecting on three straight possessions. Although the Seahawks shot 57.1 percent during the frist quarter, the Huskies earned seven more shot attempts and led by six, 24-18.
 
Stewart kicked off the Huskies' second quarter scoring with a 3-pointer that put NU ahead, 27-18, but Raque answered right back to keep the gap at six. UNCW continued to chip away, finally drawing level at 32-32 with six minutes to go in the half. Consecutive jumpers by DeFreese had the Huskies soon up by four, but the Seahawks closed the quarter on a 9-2 run to claim a 41-38 advantage going into the locker rooms.
 
Following Cole's 3-pointer that gave UNCW its largest lead of the game with 9:09 remaining in the third, NU locked down its defense and spurred its game-changing, 23-3 run that sent the Huskies comfortably in front with 7:09 to play in the fourth.
 
The Seahawks reduced the deficit back to single digits with 3:56 left on the clock, and lowered the Huskies' lead to as low as two with 48 seconds to go. Sally delivered the icing on the cake with 22 seconds to go, kissing a layup off the glass that sealed Northeastern's victory. Ortiz hit two late free throws to bring the final score to 72-66.
 
Northeastern will travel to Elon on Sunday, Feb. 14, for a 2 p.m game
 
STATS OF THE GAME
- Northeastern improved its lead in the all-time series to 11-8. The Huskies' 10 victories against UNCW are the most NU has earned against the current CAA member schools.
- Samantha DeFreese made 10 field goals for the first time since Dec. 4 against Maine (11).
- Claudia Ortiz had hauled in eight rebounds once during her first 17 games of the season. She has now collected eight during each of her last two games (had eight on Friday).
- Jess Genco played 40 or more minutes for the 10th time this season. She is now averaging 38.7 minutes per game.
- Gabby Giacone celebrated her 13th double-digit scoring game of the 2015-16 season.
- Six of Northeastern's nine wins this season have come on Fridays.
- The Huskies have outscored eight opponents this season by eight or more points during the third quarter (outscored UNCW, 19-6).