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BOSTON – Entertaining a Kids Day crowd of more than 2,000 strong at Matthews Arena on Wednesday, the Northeastern women's basketball team did its best to counter an aggressive second quarter by Harvard as the Huskies experienced a 79-69 setback against their fellow Boston-area rival.
 
Jess Genco and Shannon Todd co-led Northeastern (3-5) with 15 points apiece, finishing as two of the Huskies' three double-digit scorers along with junior guard Zoe Zwerling (12 points). Genco showcased her shooting range throughout the afternoon, burying five 3-pointers while also registering four assists and four steals during 37 minutes of action.
 
Five NU players tied or achieved season scoring highs on Wednesday, including freshman guard Jasmin Watson, who tallied nine points, three rebounds, and a block during her collegiate debut. Te'Erica Eason came through with seven points, four rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, while Stella Clark crafted five points, four rebounds, six assists, and a steal.
 
Harvard (5-4) shot 47 percent from the field and received a game high, 27 points, from Katie Benzan, who shot seven-of-nine from behind the arc. Benzan also notched seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal during 36 minutes. Kirby Porter contributed 12 points for the Crimson, while Madeline Raster added nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
 
With Harvard's victory, the all-time series between the Huskies and the Crimson now stands even at 15-15. Northeastern has now yet to defeat Harvard during its five tries since Dec. 21, 2006.
 
FIRST QUARTER
 
Northeastern and Harvard came out of the gates blazing, both entering the 4:35 media timeout with identical five-for-nine shooting clips, despite four of the Crimson's five field goals coming from beyond the perimeter.
 
Jess Genco fired Jasmine Braswell's opening tip across the court to Shannon Todd, who put the Huskies ahead instantaneously, 2-0, with her jumper along the left baseline. Genco unloaded her first 3-pointer to bring Northeastern a 5-4 lead, but the Crimson began to heat up from behind the arc, benefitting from Katie Benzan's second 3-pointer and Taylor Rooks' first to sneak in front, 10-5, less than three minutes in. Loren Lassiter set Braswell up with a baseline jumper to bring the Huskies within three points at 12-9 before Madeline Raster and Todd traded 3-point makes, leaving the Crimson with a 15-12 lead at the 4:35 break in the action.
 
Out of the timeout, Northeastern forced Harvard into committing three turnovers, laying the foundation for the Huskies to complete their 11-0 run – capped by Genco's two deep 3-pointers. The Crimson managed to close the door on Northeastern's 20-15 lead, pulling within a point (20-19) as Benzan completed her eight-point quarter at the free throw line.
 
SECOND QUARTER
 
Despite carrying over a one-point lead into the second quarter, Northeastern had trouble trying to slow Benzan, who converted on four consecutive 3-point attempts to allow Harvard to claim a 31-20 lead with 6:57 to play in the half. Unfortunately for the Huskies, their offensive woes continued during the period as NU missed its first eight field goal attempts, leaving the door open for Harvard to tie off a string of 22 straight points and take a 37-20 lead with 3:48 to go. Stella Clark's free throw at the 3:37 mark halted the Crimson's scoring run, but Northeastern would have to wait another 90 seconds for Todd to end the Huskies' 10-minute drought without a field goal. Clark knocked down two more free throws down the stretch and Todd funneled in another layup as NU went into the locker room trailing, 40-27.
 
THIRD QUARTER
 
Lassiter's bucket in the paint put the Huskies in the score's column roughly two minutes into the second half, but the Crimson countered with Raster's three-point play and another basket by Kirby Porter to regain a 17-point advantage. Northeastern's cold shooting left the Huskies without a field goal for close to a four-minute spell, until Zoe Zwerling broke through with her first 3-pointer of the season with 4:04 to play. Freshman guard Jasmin Watson opened her collegiate career by hitting back-to-back jumpers to lower Northeastern's deficit to 54-38, but Harvard managed to widen its lead to as high as 20 points during the final minute of the quarter. Te'Erica Eason dropped a floater in the lane as time expired to shorten the Crimson's edge to 62-44.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
 
Genco started the Huskies' comeback campaign with a 3-pointer from the left wing, despite Northeastern being unable to crack into Harvard's double-digit advantage. Going two-for-two at the foul line, Watson brought the Huskies within 14 points (69-55) for the first time during roughly six minutes, triggering a late-game surge for Northeastern. Zwerling answered Nani Redford's 3-pointer with one of her own, prepping a 9-0 run for NU that lowered the score to 72-64 with 1:45 remaining. Northeastern pulled to as close as seven points, 73-66, with 1:09 to play, but the Crimson stayed perfect at the free throw line, ending the game going six-for-six.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern will break for final exams and resume its non-conference schedule at Vermont on Sunday, Dec. 17. The Huskies and the Catamounts are scheduled to tip that afternoon at 2 p.m.