By Jessica Man

Saturday marked the end of an era for Northeastern women’s hoops, as seniors Francesca Vanin, Karoline Alexander and Milena Ninkovic played the Solomon court hardwood for the last time.

Despite finishing the regular season with a 13-14 overall record and an 8-10 America East standing, the Huskies closed out their conference slate with a come-from-behind win against Stony Brook University, 78-75.

The seniors were recognized prior to the start of the game.

Captain Vanin notched her second consecutive double-double. Her 18-point, 14-rebound effort gave her a final count of seven double-doubles in the season.

Stony Brook owned the game in the first half, leading by a game-high 13 points at the 9:56 mark. The Seawolves slowly started to cool off and NU was able to chip away at the lead, ending the half down by just five with the score 36-31.

The Huskies started with extra adrenaline in the second half. Less than a minute into the half, NU was down by one from a jumper by junior guard Maralene Zwarich. She tallied 27 points and seven rebounds. Later, freshman Shaleyse Smallwood was fouled by sophomore guard Mykeema Ford. Smallwood dropped two free throw shots to bring the Huskies up by one. Smallwood had 13 points and two assists.

NU sustained the lead after a free throw shot made by Vanin at 13:12. The Huskies were able to create a nine-point lead with 8:31 left in the second half.

However, the Seawolves would not drown without a struggle, and with a lay-up by freshman forward Cheri Davis, the team took a two-point lead with just 1:38 remaining.

In response, Zwarich pulled two consecutive jumpers and arched a pair of free throws in the last minute-and-a-half, giving the Huskies the win.

Finishing in seventh place, the Huskies will play the No.10 seed University of Maryland- Baltimore County, in the 2004-05 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East tournament. The Huskies tip off tonight at 8:30 p.m. in the Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion in West Hartford, Conn.