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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – For the first time in program history, the Northeastern women's basketball team is through to the CAA semifinals as the Huskies, the No. 6 seed, upset No. 3 Hofstra, 65-54, during Thursday night's league quarterfinal.
 
Northeastern (15-15) came blazing out of the gates during the first quarter, piling on 27 points against the Pride, the most NU has notched in a single quarter this season. The Huskies shot 59.1 percent from the field during the first half, racing out to a 42-18 lead by halftime.
 
Freshman Jess Genco paced the Huskies with 19 points on six-of-10 shooting, funneling four 3-pointers through the net while collecting four rebounds. Samantha DeFreese scored eight of her 15 points from the foul line, helping Northeastern tie a school postseason record for free-throw makes in a game (23). DeFreese also set a new season high with four steals while also equaling her season high in blocks with three.
 
Francesca Sally and Kazzidy Stewart each racked up 11 points apiece, finishing with seven and five rebounds, respectively. Claudia Ortiz came through with seven points and six rebounds as well.
 
The Huskies' ability to make long-distance shots and make trips to the free-throw line proved to be vital in being able to survive their quarterfinal matchup. By game's end, Northeastern had knocked down eight 3-pointers compared to Hofstra's two and attempted 31 free throws, eight more than the Pride had managed to earn.
 
Ashunae Durant, a 2016 All-CAA Second Team selection, double-doubled for Hofstra (22-8), registering 17 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Foul trouble limited Darius Faulk to just 13 points, while the Huskies' defense held senior Jakelle King-Gilchrist without a bucket on 11 field-goal attempts. Anjie White ended the contest with eight points and eight rebounds, but her day also came to an end early on fouls with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Northeastern blew the doors off the arena during the opening quarter, assembling an 18-0 run that catapulted the Huskies to a commanding, 27-9 advantage after the first period. NU converted on all eight of its free-throw attempts and shot a blistering 63.6 percent (seven-of-11) from the field, including five-of-seven from downtown. Genco, Stewart, and Sally combined to go five-of-five from long range during the first quarter as well.
 
The Huskies' hot shooting continued during the second quarter as NU knocked down six of its 11 shots, widening its lead to 24 at halftime. Northeastern was in front by as much as 26 points at 38-12 and 42-16 before the first half came to a close.
 
After two quarters, Genco (13 points), Stewart (10), DeFreese (eight), and Sally (seven) each had more points than Hofstra's top scorer, Durant (six).
 
Northeastern maintained its more than 20-point lead throughout the entirety of the third quarter, with the exception of the final 24 seconds. Although the Pride were held without a field goal during the last 2:58 of the quarter, Hofstra went on a 7-1 run strictly from the free-throw line to close the stanza, cutting Northeastern's lead to 19.
 
The Pride would charge back at the Huskies again during the fourth quarter, whittling down the NU lead to as low as nine during the final minute.
 
Northeastern will advance to Friday's CAA semifinal round where NU will take on No. 2 Drexel at 4 p.m.