University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
7-3
Northeastern University
2-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 26 | 37 | 63 |
| Northeastern | 34 | 28 | 62 |
Anderson's Buzzer-Beater Lifts Women's Basketball Over Northeastern, 63-62
12/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOSTON -- Sophomore guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer as the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team overcame a 20-point deficit to top Northeastern University, 63-62, Monday afternoon at Cabot Center.
UNH improves to 7-3 on the season in the non-conference win. Northeastern suffers its fifth consecutive loss and slips to 2-6.
Trailing 60-57 with seven seconds left in regulation, Anderson tied the game at 60 apiece with a 3-pointer. However, NU drew a foul on the ensuing possession, putting senior guard Amencie Mercier on the free throw line. Mercier made both of her shots as UNH trailed 62-60 with five seconds left in regulation. The Wildcats turned to Anderson again for another 3-pointer. As the final horn blew, the sophomore launched the game-deciding basket from the right side just beyond midcourt for the win.
Junior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half to lead UNH in the scoring column. Belanger also registered five rebounds, two steals and a block. Senior guard Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio) turned in 14 points while corralling seven rebounds. Anderson finished the day with 12 points and was 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.
NU was led by Mercier with 15 points, two assists and a steal. Junior forward Samantha DeFreese and freshman guard Maureen Taggart both eclipsed double figures in scoring off the bench with 11 points apiece.
The Wildcats shot 21 of 50 (.420) from the floor and converted a season-high 9 of 20 (.450) from 3-point range. NU was 22 of 56 (.393) from the field and 7 of 17 (.412) from beyond the arc. New Hampshire won the battle in the paint, outscoring (30-20) and outrebounding (38-32) Northeastern.
Northeastern jumped out to a 5-1 lead out of the chute, but an Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) triple brought UNH within a point. After a NU free throw by Tanish Hopewell, Belanger knotted the game at six apiece with a layup.
The Huskies reclaimed their lead, registering three triples as part of a 14-1 run to lead 20-7 with 9:24 left in the first half.
New Hampshire responded with a 6-2 surge as Belanger notched a basket sandwiched by Gaston layups.
The Wildcats narrowed the deficit down to three points at 24-21 as Gaston and Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) poured in layups.
Northeastern relied on its 3-point shooting to preserve the lead with Mercier drilling the triple from the left side.
The Huskies added to their lead as A'lece Mark notched a layup to give the home team a 29-22 lead with 2:34 to go in the first half.
UNH made it a one-score game again at 29-26 as Anderson and Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) registered baskets. Despite that, NU closed out the first stanza with five unanswered points to lead 34-26 into the break.
Northeastern opened the second half with a 12-0 run, constructing its largest lead of the afternoon at 46-26.
The Wildcats relied on Belanger to keep pace with the Huskies as the junior drilled back-to-back treys. However, Northeastern still held a sizable lead over UNH at 53-34 with 8:34 left in regulation.
UNH staged its comeback at the 7:55 mark as senior guard/forward Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany) tallied a pair of free throws.
Belanger continued her second-half scoring surge as she penetrated the paint for a pair of layups to cut the NU lead down to 15 at 55-40.
New Hampshire added to its run as a Belanger trey followed by a Gaston layup fell at 6:03 and 5:38 respectively.
UNH narrowed NU's lead down to single digits at 55-47 as Gaston went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Belanger continued the rally with another layup to up the visiting team score to 49.
At the 3:41 mark, Belanger picked up her fifth foul of the game, taking UNH's leading scorer out of the match. However, the 'Cats continued its comeback.
An Anderson 3-pointer followed by a pair of Gaston free throws punctuated the 20-2 New Hampshire run as the visiting team trailed 55-54 with 1:34 left in regulation.
NU momentarily staved off the rally with baskets from Mercier and Mark to make it a two-score game at 59-54 with under a minute to go.
Simpson cut the Huskies' lead down to two with a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left. UNH opted to foul on the next possession, sending Mercier to the charity stripe. The senior made the first free throw, but missed the second, giving the 'Cats a chance to tie the game.
On the next possession, Anderson launched a trey with seven seconds left to knot the score at 60 apiece. However, NU managed to lure a foul with five seconds left, sending Mercier to the line again. The senior made both of her free throws this time, upping the score to 62-60.
As time expired, Anderson launched the 3-pointer at the buzzer, going through the basket to give the 'Cats the 63-62 comeback win.
New Hampshire remains on the road, visiting Manhattan College for non-conference action Sunday, Dec. 28 (2 p.m.). UNH plays its last non-league game at home Sunday, Dec. 31 (3 p.m.) against Bryant University. For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.
Check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH women's basketball team, follow the 'Cats on Twitter (@UNHHoops) and Instagram (@unhwbb).
