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LONG BEACH, Calif. – Led by Zoe Zwerling's career high, 15 points, courtesy of her five 3-point makes, the Northeastern women's basketball team put everything it had into slowing Illinois State during Thursday's Beach Classic championship game, despite finishing runner-up to the Redbirds, 65-55, at Walter Pyramid.
 
Zwerling shared the second half spotlight with Jess Genco, who was named to the 2017 Beach Classic All-Tournament Team upon averaging 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during the two-day event. The NU duo combined to score 24 of the Huskies' 31 seconds half points, each contributing 12 points apiece during the last two quarters. Zwerling paired her career scoring high with a career best, five 3-point field goals, also recording three rebounds and two steals.
 
Genco ended the day one point (14) off Zwerling's pace, although she led Northeastern (5-6) with five assists and also grabbed six rebounds. Shannon Todd and Gabby Giacone each scored 11 points apiece, with Giacone pacing the Huskies on the glass with seven boards.
 
Northeastern combined to shoot 34 percent from the field – its second lowest field goal percentage to date this season. Despite this, the Huskies remained even with Illinois State in rebounding (37-37) and committed only four more turnovers than the Redbirds. However, Northeastern surrendered a 15-point margin to Illinois State at the free throw line, from where the Redbirds shot 17-for-24 against Genco's two-for-two clip.
 
Simone Goods led Illinois State with 23 points and eight rebounds, shooting seven-for-10 from the floor. Hannah Green added 13 points to the Redbirds' cause, while Megan Talbot led Illinois State with nine rebounds.
 
During the Beach Classic consolation game, New Mexico State defeated Long Beach State, 72-63.
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
Despite being held scoreless during the first three minutes of Thursday's game, Northeastern soon found its offensive rhythm, responding to Illinois State's 4-0 start with seven unanswered points. Gabby Giacone scored on consecutive possessions for the Huskies to tie the game at 4-4, before Shannon Todd broke the tie with a 3-pointer to give NU its first lead at the 5:38 mark. Megan Talbot answered Todd's 3-pointer with one of her own to bring the Redbirds even at 7-7, where the score stood at the 3:55 media timeout. Todd put the Huskies back on top, 9-7, in the wake of the timeout, but Illinois State regained the lead at 10-9 during the final minute courtesy of Simone Goods' three-point play against Loren Lassiter. Northeastern outgained the Redbirds, 12-8, on the glass, despite both teams shooting 29 and 31 percent from the field, respectively.
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
Todd and Zoe Zwerling warmed up the Huskies' offense by drilling back-to-back 3-pointers to begin the period, rushing NU out to a 15-10 lead during the opening minute and a half. Giacone went up-and-under to extend the Huskies' quarter-opening run to 7-1, while Northeastern's defense kept the Redbirds without a field goal until Paige Saylor's layup near the six-minute mark. Jasmine Braswell responded with a jumper from the left elbow to keep the Huskies' lead at six points (19-13), but two straight buckets by Goods allowed the Redbirds to creep back within one possession at 19-17 with 4:12 left to play. Genco utilized the backboard on her running floater, while Giacone knocked down another NU 3-pointer inside of two minutes remaining to put Northeastern ahead, 24-19. Illinois State capped the quarter with a 5-0 run as both teams entered the half deadlocked at 24-24.
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
Hannah Green scored six straight points to begin the second half, hitting a 3-pointer before converting a three-point play at the expense of Jess Genco's second personal foul. Giacone ended the Huskies' three-minute scoreless stretch in the paint, one possession before Ortiz funneled a pass through the lane to Lassiter, who brought NU within two points at 30-28. After Illinois State had crept in front, 33-28, Zwerling stepped up with a 3-point make from the left corner. Genco then took over, accounting for each of the Huskies' next seven points as Northeastern closed within two points again at 40-38. Green appeared to shift all momentum in favor of the Redbirds courtesy of her 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds to go, but Zwerling countered with a 3-pointer herself at the buzzer, leaving NU down, 43-41, heading into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
 
Northeastern missed three field goal attempts during the opening three minutes before Katrina Beck's 3-pointer provided Illinois State with a 47-41 lead with 6:39 remaining. Genco went two-for-two at the foul line on the Huskies' next trip down the floor, but the Redbirds steadied a 7-0 scoring run to build a double-digit lead (54-43) with less than four minutes to play. Zwerling kept the Huskies competitive with a 3-point jumper, two possessions before Genco hit one as well, slicing the deficit to 54-49 with 2:17 to play. After Beck had widened Illinois State's lead to 56-49, Zwerling triggered another 3-pointer to pull Northeastern within four points at 56-52, but the Redbirds managed to close out the game by combining to shoot nine-for-10 from the free throw line.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will begin its 18-game CAA schedule on Friday, Dec. 29, when the Huskies travel to Towson to take on the Tigers at 7 p.m. NU will play its conference home opener on New Year's Eve (Sunday, Dec. 31), when the Huskies will welcome the league's preseason favorite, James Madison, to Cabot Center for a 1 p.m. matinee.