Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Pulling within seven points of James Madison by halftime, the Northeastern women's basketball team could not quite hold off the Dukes on Sunday afternoon as the Huskies suffered a 74-54, road setback.
 
Claudia Ortiz and Francesca Sally finished as the top two scorers for Northeastern (6-11, 2-3 CAA). Ortiz dropped 13 of her 19 points during the second half, stringing together the Huskies' first eight points of the third quarter. Sally notched her third consecutive double-double during league action, tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds during 37 minutes of court time.
 
James Madison (11-5, 4-1 CAA) burst out of the gates to the tune of a 10-0 run during the opening 2:37 of the game and never looked back, outscoring the Huskies, 39-26, during the second half. NU reduced the Dukes' 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter to just 35-28 at the half, closing the second quarter on a 13-6 run.
 
The Huskies were effective in limiting the production of James Madison's Precious Hall, who entered the day as the CAA's leading scorer (23.7 points per game). Although Hall did share her team's scoring lead at 18 points with teammate Kamiah Smalls, she only knocked down four field goals, accounting for her other eight points at the free-throw line.
 
Gabby Giacone chipped in nine points and four rebounds for the Huskies, while Jess Genco posted six points in addition to playing the entire game.
 
Northeastern found its groove during the second quarter, when the Huskies shot 54 percent from the field. NU forced James Madison into committing three of its eight turnovers during the second, gaining a +4 margin in points of turnovers that quarter.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will head to Delaware on Friday, Jan. 20, for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Blue Hens.