Box Score | Season Stats | Infographic

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Backed by forward Samantha DeFreese's 15th career double-double and point guard Jess Genco's 10-point third quarter, the Northeastern women's basketball team turned a nine-point halftime deficit against College of Charleston into a three-point victory, 52-49, on Friday night.
 
DeFreese's 12 points were an understatement to the senior's career high, 17 rebounds, of which seven were earned on the offensive glass. As a team, the Huskies outrebounded the Cougars, 23-17, during the second half, claiming 15 defensive boards.
 
Genco led all scorers with 15 points, tallying 10 points during the third quarter alone to help Northeastern (8-13, 3-7 CAA) trim a 29-20 gap down to one point at 38-37. The NU rookie played all 40 minutes for the second straight game, firing three 3-pointers on top of six rebounds, three assists, and a block.
 
The Huskies improved to 6-2 this season when leading their opponent in points in the paint, as Northeastern did, 24-18, on Friday. Like Genco, center Francesca Sally also shot six-of-10 from the floor, registering 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Gabby Giacone and Claudia Ortiz each snagged five and four rebounds, respectively.
 
Kelsey Booth kicked things off for Charleston during the first quarter, sinking two 3-pointers during an eight-point quarter. After a jumper by DeFreese had awarded Northeastern an early 7-4 lead, Booth connected on back-to-back 3-point tries, helping Charleston build a 10-9 advantage before the first media timeout. She wrapped up her evening with 13 points and three rebounds.
 
Darien Huff and Breanna Bolden each ended the game with 11 points apiece, with Bolden grabbing six boards and dishing out three assists. Huff recorded the only free-throw make of the night for the Cougars, whom shot a combined one-of-six from the foul line. Courtney Gardner led Charleston with eight rebounds, while Jackie Luna-Castro had six boards and two blocks.
 
Heading into the second quarter with a 13-10 edge, Sally answered Huff's game tying 3-pointer with one of her own, the sixth three-ball the six-foot-two center has made during her career. However, Charleston soon countered the clutch shot by the NU junior with an 8-0 run to build a five-point lead at 21-16. Bolden added insult to injury on the Huskies' final defensive possession of the first half, draining a 3-pointer with two seconds to go that left NU down by nine, 29-20, heading into the locker rooms.
 
Genco wasted no time firing up Northeastern's offense during the second half, following Huff's missed three to start the second half by pulling the trigger on her second 3-pointer of the night. Trailing the Cougars by 10 with 6:45 remaining in the third, Genco hit a jumper before Taggart knocked down a 3-pointer in from the right side, bringing the Huskies to within five at 33-28.
 
Following another 3-pointer by Genco that brought the score to 35-31, DeFreese and Sally scored on consecutive possessions, leveling the game at 35-35 with 1:36 left in the third. Sally then proceeded to score 24 seconds into the fourth quarter, giving NU its first lead since the first quarter at 39-38.
 
With Northeastern leading by two, 45-43, Booth hit a clutch 3-pointer with 3:51 to go that sent Charleston back on top by one. Soon after, NU earned two offensive boards on the same trip down the floor, leading to DeFreese's finish in the paint that booted the Huskies back up by one, 47-46.
 
During the final minute, Sally's jumper with 34 seconds to go put Northeastern up for good as Zoe Zwerling sank three free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
NU will return to Cabot Center on Sunday, Feb. 7, for a 2 p.m. home game against league-leading James Madison.
 
STATS OF THE GAME
- Jess Genco scored more points (10) during the third quarter than College of Charleston did as a team (nine).
- Samantha DeFreese ended Friday's game with 984 career points. She is now 16 points away from reaching 1,000.
- NU improved to 2-1 in road games at College of Charleston. The Huskies still trail the all-time series, 2-3.
- Northeastern held its opponent to fewer than 10 free-throw attempts for the fifth time this season (the Cougars had six on Friday).
- Seven of the Huskies' eight wins this year have come when NU outrebounds its opponent (led Charleston, 42-40, overall).
- The Huskies' 52 points are the fewest Northeastern has had in a winning game this year.
- NU is now 3-2 in the CAA during Friday games.