Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

LONG BEACH, Calif.  – Prevailing on Shannon Todd's game-winning 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining in regulation, the Northeastern women's basketball team endured 11 lead changes and 13 tied scores to defeat New Mexico State, 65-64, during Wednesday's semifinal round of the 2017 Beach Classic (as hosted by Long Beach State) and advance to Thursday's championship game opposite Illinois State.
 
Todd's 3-point basket during the closing seconds netted the sophomore guard a team high, 14 points, featuring a three-for-five shooting clip from downtown. She was one of five NU players to finish between 10 and 14 points, while four of her teammates secured between eight and nine rebounds.
 
Despite leading New Mexico State (4-7) by five points at the half, Northeastern (5-5) overcame a -10 turnover margin and as high as an eight-point deficit during the third quarter to win Wednesday's semifinal. Jess Genco nearly attained a triple double, totaling 12 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and a steal during 40 minutes of action. Claudia Ortiz tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists during her return to the NU lineup.
 
Loren Lassiter shared the Huskies' rebounding lead with Genco at nine, while Gabby Giacone charted 12 points and eight rebounds as well.
 
Monique Mills posted a team high, 18 points, for the Aggies, shooting five-for-six from behind the arc. Brooke Salas registered 17 points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Gia Pack also finished in double figures, pairing 15 points with eight rebounds.
 
Northeastern outscored New Mexico State, 13-2, in second chance points, but surrendered a 19-6 margin in points off turnovers to the Aggies.
 
Illinois State defeated Long Beach State, 59-51, during the first Beach Classic semifinal game.
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
After hitting a program record, 15 3-pointers, during Sunday's victory at Vermont, Northeastern picked up where it left off behind the perimeter, beginning the game by shooting three-for-three from downtown. Claudia Ortiz squeezed the Huskies' inaugural 3-pointer between Monique Mills' pair of 3-point makes, later knocking down a second long-range jumper after Shannon Todd's to give Northeastern an early, 9-8 lead. Jess Genco's ensuing jumper kicked off an energetic pace by both sides that – when the dust had settled – left both teams tied at 13-13 with 6:07 left to play. Ortiz and Giacone sandwiched baskets around Brooke Salas' third field goal of the quarter, capping a five-for-seven shooting stretch by the Huskies that left NU in front, 17-15, at the 3:43 media timeout. Tonishia Childress and Dominique Mills combined to swing the Aggies back on top at 19-17 before Todd banked in a long 2-pointer, knotting the game for the sixth time at 19-19.
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
Zoe Zwerling crossed over her defender at the top of the key and popped a 2-point jumper to put the Huskies ahead, 21-19, on their first trip down the floor. After Gia Pack had tied the game for the seventh time at 21-21, both teams endured a scoring lull until Genco fed a downstairs pass to Giacone, who broke the silence with a layup at the 6:14 mark. Giacone's layup paired with the Aggies' one-for-nine shooting to start the quarter allowed NU to assemble a 7-0 run as the Huskies carried a 28-21 lead into the final four minutes. Ortiz brought Northeastern to 30 points with just outside of two minutes to play, while the Huskies' defense effectively kept New Mexico State to two-for-14 shooting during the entire quarter. Jeneva Toilolo's pair of free throws during the closing seconds chipped Northeastern's lead down to five points (30-25) at the half.
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
Zaire Williams netted consecutive 3-pointers for the Aggies, providing New Mexico State with a quick 31-30 lead – its first since the opening quarter. Both the Huskies and the Aggies incremented their scores at the free throw line until Pack broke the game's 33-33 tie with a 3-pointer, prompting an 11-3 run that put New Mexico State ahead, 44-36, with 5:34 remaining. Genco and Zwerling channeled creative passes to Lassiter, who finished in the paint, keying a response by the Huskies that brought them within one possession, 44-42, with less than 3:30 to go. Zwerling motored her way to two more driving baskets before Lassiter tied the game for the 10th time at 46-46. Genco erased the Aggies' 48-46 lead with her 3-point field goal, but a late jumper by Salas left New Mexico State in front, 50-49, with a quarter left to play.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
Zwerling and Todd started the Huskies on the right course during the final quarter, combining to yield a pair of clutch 3-point baskets to help NU grab a 55-52 lead. Monique Mills' fifth 3-pointer drew New Mexico State level at 55-55 with 6:24 to go, while the two teams managed to find another tie at 57-57, heading into the Huskies' called timeout with 5:37 remaining. The Aggies scored four straight points out of the timeout to build a 61-57 lead, but Genco responded immediately with a timely 3-pointer, creating a one-point game with 3:50 to play. After a quiet two and a half minutes by both teams, Zwerling connected on a jumper to put Northeastern in front, 62-61, with 1:05 to go, but Salas successfully put the Aggies back in front on their next possession. Monique Mills tacked on a free throw with 15 seconds to go to inch New Mexico State ahead, 64-62, but the Huskies' final sequence worked to perfection as Todd hit her right-wing 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining, lifting Northeastern to the thrilling, one-point win.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will take on Illinois State during the 2017 Beach Classic championship game on Thursday, Dec. 21. Tipoff between the Huskies and the Redbirds is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST (2 p.m. PST), but will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the tournament's consolation game between Long Beach State and New Mexico State.