Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Backed by Francesca Sally's career high, 30 points, and another 21-point effort out of Claudia Ortiz, the Northeastern women's basketball team kicked its offense into high gear and won its fourth straight CAA game in a shootout on Friday night, 86-75, against College of Charleston.
 
With the victory, NU moved to within a single victory of being able to clinch one of the top six seeds in next month's CAA tournament (March 8-11), which would allow the Huskies to enter the postseason in the league's quarterfinal round. Including Friday's results, Northeastern (11-17, 7-9 CAA) is now tied with William & Mary (7-9 CAA) for fifth place in the conference standings, but would receive the No. 6 seed per the Tribe gaining a reversed result courtesy of the CAA's Feb. 2 seeding adjustment.
 
Coming off a 24-point outing against Towson on Feb. 19 that had tied her previous career scoring high, Sally proceeded to drop 20 points alone during the first half, opening six-of-nine from the floor with two 3-pointers and a perfect, six-of-six mark from the charity stripe. By the final horn, the NU senior had stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a nine-of-10 clip from the foul line.
 
Ortiz sported her fourth 20-point scoring game of the season with her 21-point performance, adding on six rebounds, four steals, and two assists to her tally. Gabby Giacone (13 points) and Jess Genco (12) rounded out the Huskies' corps of four double-digit scorers on Friday, with Genco registering a double-double courtesy of her 11 assists. Te'Erica Eason led the NU bench with seven points, going three-of-three from the field.
 
Northeastern enjoyed one of its greatest shooting displays during head coach Kelly Cole's tenure. The Huskies directed in 58 percent of their shots and totaled 86 points – both team highs under the third-year head coach.
 
Breanna Bolden headlined College of Charleston (9-18, 6-10 CAA) with 28 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Like the Huskies, the Cougars also finished with four double-figure scorers, comprised of Tanisha Brown (14 points), Darien Huff (13), and Bri Sullivan (11).
 
Offense reigned supreme during the first half as both sides opened the night shooting well above 50 percent. Sally chipped in 12 points during the opening quarter while Northeastern collectively shot 10-of-15 and made five 3-point baskets, racing out to a 28-24 lead by the end of the period.
 
Ortiz's 3-point jumper to begin the second quarter sparked a 7-0 run for the Huskies that widened the visitors' lead to 11 points with 7:48 remaining in the half. NU extended its hold on the first half to as high as 17 points (48-31) before the two-minute mark and coasted to a 14-point halftime lead, 50-36.
 
Having made two out of every three baskets during the first half, the Huskies witnessed their shooting percentage dip slightly to 50 percent during the third quarter as the Cougars took the duration of the period to halve Northastern's lead to seven points (67-60). Despite Charleston's second 24-point quarter of the game, NU stole the momentum back upon Ortiz knocking down a clutch 3-point jumper that allowed the Huskies to head into the fourth quarter with a 70-60 edge.
 
After Sullivan had brought the Cougars within single digits again two minutes into the final quarter, Sally and Giacone answered with a pair of layups 14 seconds apart, sending Charleston into a called timeout, trailing by 12 with 7:13 to go. Northeastern remained comfortably in front the rest of the way, attempting 16 free throws during the second half as the Huskies polished off their fourth straight victory with ease.
 
UP NEXT

Northeastern will conclude its three-game road stretch at UNCW on Sunday, Feb. 26. Tipoff between the Huskies and the Seahawks is scheduled for 2 p.m.