Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic | Highlights | Tesha Tinsley jersey retirement ceremony

BOSTON – In the presence of jersey-retiree Tesha Tinsley and its alumnae, the Northeastern women's basketball team put on a dominating display on Sunday afternoon against College of Charleston as the Huskies returned to their winning caliber by way of a 61-44 victory at Cabot Center.
 
Prior to the game, Northeastern retired Tinsley's No. 10 jersey – the first to be retired in program history - as worn during her NU playing days from 1996 to 2000. To this day, the Baltimore native's name can be found throughout the Huskies' record book, especially at the top of Northeastern's all-time leading scorers list, where she remains in first place with 2,187 career points. Together with her brother, Tinsley pulled the string that unveiled her jersey in Cabot Center next to the late Reggie Lewis' No. 35.
 
Claudia Ortiz took a page out of Tinsley's book and led the Huskies with 23 points on Sunday, knocking down four of her seven 3-point attempts. Francesca Sally achieved her eighth double-double of the year and first since Jan. 22, setting a career high in rebounds (15) while recording 13 points.
 
With Sunday's victory, Northeastern (8-17, 4-9 CAA) snapped a five-game losing skid, one that had pitted the Huskies four times against the conference's top three teams: Elon (twice), Drexel, and James Madison.
 
As a team, NU tied its season rebounding high (51), marking the first time the Huskies have brought down 50 or more boards during a regulation game since Nov. 29, 2014. Five Northeastern players hauled in exactly five rebounds behind Sally's team high, 15, while Loren Lassiter ended the day with four.
 
Jess Genco rolled out a well-balanced stat line of seven points, five rebounds, six assists, and a steal, while fellow sophomore Gabby Giacone dropped eight points, accounting for the Huskies' eight-point advantage in points in the paint (28-20).
 
Bre Bolden led College of Charleston (8-16, 5-8 CAA) with 21 points despite the Cougars remaining winless during their seventh road CAA game. Bolden added 10 rebounds to her line to notch a double-double, while Tanisha Brown charted five points and seven rebounds as well.
 
Northeastern opened the first quarter shooting 56 percent from the floor, but had trouble shaking Charleston off early after Bolden's layup had put the visitors up 7-6 with 5:56 to go. Ortiz soon found her touch from long range and drained 3-point baskets on consecutive possessions for the Huskies, furthering what would end up being a 10-0 run.
 
After doubling up the Cougars, 20-10, during the first quarter, Maureen Taggart and Sally both knocked down buckets for Northeastern, improving the Huskies' lead to 14. Courtney Redcross joined the scoring party courtesy of a layup with 3:27 to go that gave NU its largest lead of the first half at 29-14.
 
The Huskies were effective in shutting down Charleston as the second half began. Northeastern forced the Cougars into missing 11 of their first 12 shots of the third quarter while reaping the benefits of a 10-3 scoring run that saw the Huskies build a 19-point advantage.
 
With NU leading, 44-31, at the end of the third quarter, Charleston reduced the Huskies' lead to single digits with 8:53 to play, forcing Northeastern into burning its first timeout of the half. However, NU would respond by leaving the gas pedal on the floor, cruising to a 60-44 lead with less than three minutes remaining.
 
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Northeastern will return to Cabot Center on Friday, Feb. 17, to host the Huskies' annual Play4Kay Game, a night that honors the late North Carolina State head coach, Kay Yow, and raises funding and awareness for women's cancers. Fans are encouraged to join Northeastern in wearing pink.