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BOSTON – Needing 16 points to become the newest member of the Northeastern women's basketball team's 1,000-point club, senior Samantha DeFreese came through with 22 on Sunday despite the Huskies falling short against James Madison, 61-52, at Cabot Center.
 
DeFreese nearly achieved the feat during the first half alone, scoring 13 points on five-of-nine shooting while sinking three free throws. The milestone could not have come at a better time for the Huskies, who were down by three midway through the third quarter. With 4:18 remaining in the period, the six-foot forward was fouled in the paint while going up strong for a layup. DeFreese made the basket and completed the three-point play from the line on the other side of the media timeout, bringing NU level with JMU at 36-36.
 
Besides leading all scorers with 22 points, DeFreese also earned her 16th career double-double and second in as many games, finishing with 10 rebounds and three steals.
 
Francesca Sally joined DeFreese in double digits with 10 points on Sunday, helping Northeastern (8-14, 3-8 CAA) score 24 points in the paint, six fewer than James Madison (16-5, 9-1 CAA). Jess Genco dropped three 3-pointers against the Dukes en route to nine points and two assists, while Tiffany Montagne filled the stat sheets with six points, four rebounds, and four assists.  
 
Although the Huskies ended the game with a slightly better field goal percentage (34.5) than the Dukes (33.3), JMU attempted 11 more shots than NU courtesy of a +11 offensive rebounding margin (20-9). Da'Lishia Griffin brought down eight offensive boards for the Dukes, closing the game with 16 rebounds and 13 points. Kayla Cooper-Williams notched the other double-double for James Madison, tallying 13 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Northeastern successfully ended CAA Preseason Player of the Year Jazmon Gwathmey's eight-game stretch with 20 points or more, although the JMU senior did score 18 against the Huskies. Hailee Barron knocked down five 3-pointers for the Dukes as part of a 15-point afternoon.
 
NU made a habit of getting to the foul line very early in the game, attempting eight of its 11 free-throw attempts during the opening stanza. The Huskies scored seven of their 13 first-quarter points from the charity stripe, with Montagne and Sally each staying perfect at two-for-two. Northeastern hit four free throws during the final two minutes of the first, allowing NU to distance itself by four points at the end of the quarter.
 
After Griffin and Giacone had traded buckets to start the second, JMU began to warm up from the floor. Genco's 3-pointer with 6:44 to go in the half helped NU break a 15-15 tie, but Barron had the answer on the other end for the Dukes, leveling the game at 18-18 just 13 seconds later. James Madison widened its lead to as much as six at 24-18, but the Huskies continued to chip away. During the closing seconds, DeFreese stole a JMU pass in the back court and powered home a jumper as time expired to bring NU to within one, 27-26, at the break.
 
Following DeFreese's three-point play that brought both teams level at 36-36 with 4:18 left in the third, the Huskies had difficulty keeping pace with James Madison's presence in the paint. Gwathmey soon blocked two Northeastern shots on one possession and scored two times as well during an 11-2 run that left JMU in front, 47-38.
 
NU played most of the fourth quarter within a six-point window, but could come no closer than four, 52-48, with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
 
Northeastern will begin a two-game, weekend road trip on Friday, Feb. 12, when the Huskies travel to UNCW for a 7 p.m. CAA contest.
 
STATS OF THE GAME
- Samantha DeFreese is the 19th player in Northeastern women's basketball history to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
- DeFreese is the second NU player to register consecutive double-doubles during the last two weeks. Gabby Giacone had picked up back-to-back double-doubles on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31.
- James Madison's 61 points are the fewest the Huskies have allowed against JMU since Feb. 19, 2012, (seven games) when NU earned its lone all-time win against the Dukes (W, 61-50).
- Claudia Ortiz set a new career high with nine rebounds on Sunday.
- Northeastern's nine turnovers are the fewest it has recorded during the entire 2015-16 season.