While a new year brings a fresh start, the results for the Northeastern women’s basketball team have been the same so far in 2005. The Huskies lost to the University of Vermont Catamounts, 75-52, last Wednesday at Patrick Gym and on Saturday, NU received their second loss in overtime on Solomon Court from Albany, 67-64.
The travel up to University of Vermont was the NU women’s basketball team’s first game of the year and their first loss in the America East Conference. The Catamounts grabbed a hold of the ball at the starting minutes and didn’t allow the Huskies a chance to establish themselves.
Junior forward Marlene Zwarich dropped a game-high 15 points, and senior forward Francesca Vanin had a double-double with 13 boards and 10 points.
However, this was no match against Vermont’s 30 bench points–every player on the team had a share in helping with the 75 point win. Sophomore guard Brittany Cross had 12 points and freshman forward Alexis Castro had 10 points, both coming off the bench.
The NU women’s squad did have an advantage over UVM in rebounding. The Huskies had 43 overall off the glass, 15 offensively and 28 defensively, the Catamounts grabbed 31 altogether, eight offensively and 23 defensively.
It seemed as if the Huskies were going to reverse their luck in the game against University of Albany. They paved a lead in the first half even though the Great Danes tried to snatch it away.
The Huskies’ sophomore guard Jody Burrows assisted Zwarich to a lay-up in the late minutes of the first half. This ignited a 9-0 run, bringing NU closer to catching up to UVM.
The Huskies were leading by six as minutes withered down, 26-20, but Albany had a 6-2 run, bringing them within two points going into the half, 28-26.
Although the effort was there, the Huskies could not stand up to the Catamounts 60.7 field goal percentage in the second half, NU had a 34.5 field goal percentage.
The Great Danes did not waste time to etch a lead in the second half. After senior guard Alicia Learn laid in two, Albany sustained a lead. At 15:11 remaining, junior forward Michelle Decerbo sailed to a lay-up, enabling NU to take back the lead. The last minute of regulation was dramatic.
Albany had a hold on the game being ahead by five, 54-49. But the Huskies fought till the end. Freshmen guard Shaleyse Smallwood scored from downtown and Zwarich dropped two points with nine seconds left, propelling the game into overtime.
The NU women’s team did their best to pull away from Albany, but their luck ran dry. Albany tied the score at 64 with 29 seconds remaining. Danielle Hutcheson, senior center for the Great Danes, pulled off two free throws to end the game indefinitely. She had16 points. They had 23 points off NU turnovers. NU only got 14 points from turnovers.
Zwarich with 23 points recorded a season high. Smallwood plunged 20 points for the Huskies. Both lead the game in overall scoring.
The NU women’s team now stand at a 5-6 record overall and a 0-2 America East Conference standing.
