Women's Basketball's Comeback Falls Short, 66-54, vs. Northeastern

Wednesday, December 2

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

5-2, 0-0AE

Northeastern University

4-2, 0-0CAA

Northeastern

New Hampshire

Women's Basketball's Comeback Falls Short, 66-54, vs. Northeastern

12/2/2015 10:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) matched a career high of 27 points and Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team was defeated 66-54 by Northeastern University at Lundholm Gym on Wednesday night.

UNH, which entered the game on a two-game win streak, slipped to 5-2 on the season while Northeastern upped its record to 4-2. The Wildcats were held to 32.2 percent (19 of 54) shooting from the floor in comparison to the Huskies' 46.6 percent (27-for-58). Both teams pulled down 38 rebounds – UNH had a 13-8 edge on the offensive glass – and NU committed four fewer turnovers (11-15).

New Hampshire plays host to Boston University for a non-conference matchup Saturday, Dec. 5, at Lundholm Gym. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. For tickets, visit www.unhwildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.

Belanger made 8 of 18 field goals, including 2 of 6 3-pointers, and converted 9 of 10 free throws for 27 points; she was also credited with eight rebounds and two steals. Pogue was 6-for-16 from the floor and made her only foul shot for 13 points.

NU was led by Samanth DeFreese (29 points, eight rebounds) and Jess Genco (21 points). DeFreese made 12 of 14 field goal attempts and went 5-for-6 from the foul line. Genco made 5 of 10 shots from behind the 3-point arc and was 8-for-18 overall.

New Hampshire trailed by 20 points, 49-29, at the start of the fourth period but Belanger buried a 3-pointer on the opening possession and made a free throw the next trip down the court to quickly trim the deficit to 49-33. Pogue's traditional three-point play followed by a short jumper at 7:48 lifted UNH within 49-38.

With 5:51 on the clock, Belanger's three-point play sliced the margin to single figures, 52-43, for the first time since NU led 33-25 at 7:15 of the third period. DeFreese answered with two foul shots and Te'Erica Eason's layup pushed Northeastern's lead back to 13 points, 56-43, with just over five minutes remaining.

Belanger's layup at 4:51 and Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) jumper off a pass from Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine; six rebounds, three assists) at 4:25 once again pulled the 'Cats within nine points, 56-47, at 4:25.

The Wildcats then attacked in transition, but Coia's close-range shot fell off the rim and Eason won the battle for the loose ball. At the other end of the court, DeFreese pulled down an offensive rebound that led to Genco's jumper and a 58-47 lead with 3:24 to play.

UNH never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way as Genco hit a 3-pointer and DeFreese netted five points to keep the 'Cats at bay.

It was a back-and-forth game in the first period, which saw three ties and three lead changes. The Huskies opened with a 5-0 run the first three minutes of the game, but New Hampshire responded with six consecutive points, the last four by Belanger from the foul line, to take a 6-5 lead at 5:21. The teams exchanged scored the rest of the way and were tied 11-11 through 10 minutes.

UNH took a 17-15 lead on Pogue's layup at 6:33 of the second quarter, but NU went on a 12-0 spurt the next four minutes to build a double-digit lead of 27-17 and the Huskies took a 30-22 lead into halftime.

Neither team scored the opening two minutes of the third period and Genco ended the drought with a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 11 points, 33-22. Anderson responded with a trey to close the gap to 33-25.

NU led 39-29 with four minutes left in the third period and closed with a 10-0 run to build its largest lead of the game – 20 points – at 49-29.

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