By Nate Owen, News Staff
A trip down South couldn’t warm up the women’s basketball team as it dropped a pair of conference games to Old Dominion and James Madison on a two-game swing through Virginia.
‘ Despite the losses, Northeastern head coach Daynia La-Force Mann said the trip reflected the progress Northeastern has made as a program.
‘ ‘The first couple years we went down here we were blown out by ODU,’ La-Force Mann said. ‘I think we’ve made tremendous strides, we only lost by eight points at James Madison. The program is definitely going in the right direction.’
‘ At James Madison (16-6, 9-2 Colonial Athletic Association), Northeastern continued its season-long trend of falling behind early. Senior guard and co-captain Ashlee Feldman hit a three-pointer for the games’ first points, but the Dukes went on a 7-0 run to pull ahead.
Freshman forward Chanez Robinson came off the bench and hit a pair of jumpers in the first half, slicing the Dukes’ lead to 27-14 with 8:05 left in the half.
‘It’s great for her,’ La-Force Mann said. ‘Even though she hasn’t played much [this season], she’s kept her head in the game. She played the last couple minutes at ODU and that gave me some confidence in her. You’re’ going to see more of Chanez Robinson from now on.’
As the half closed, freshman guard Brittany Wilson grabbed a rebound and drove down the court, pulling up for a jumper as time expired to pull the Huskies to within 46-27.
Wilson finished with her first career double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 boards.
NU (8-14, 5-6 CAA) started the second half on a 6-0 run highlighted by a jumper from sophomore guard Jasmine Crew at 17:02.
‘ After pulling within 10 thanks to a Wilson jumper, the Huskies watched as the Dukes built their lead up to 17 points when guard Dawn Evans found the net at 7:39.
‘ Evans entered the game as the top scorer in women’s Division I basketball (24.7 ppg) and proved to be a menace to the Huskies, erupting for 32 points and six rebounds.
‘ ‘We knew she was going to score her points regardless,’ La-Force Mann said. ‘We were more concerned with limiting [James Madison’s] second chance points and limiting the looks for the rest [of the players].’
‘ Feldman’s shot from beyond the arc was good with 4:59 left, cutting the Dukes’ lead to 10 points, 61-51. But both teams would trade baskets as James Madison held off the Huskies for a 74-66 win.
‘ Once again, turnovers and lack of offensive rebounds plagued the Huskies. James Madison grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 21 second chance points, and turned 16 Northeastern giveaways into 24 points.
‘ Crew led the Huskies with 17 points, while Feldman was four-of-eight from beyond the arc and finished with 16 points.
‘ With the win, the Dukes remained in a three-way tie for first place in the CAA with VCU and Drexel.
‘ On Thursday night, the Huskies traveled to Old Dominion (13-8, 8-3 CAA)’ to whom they dropped’ a 66-56 decision at Solomon Court Jan. 11. Crew sat out that game for violating a team rule. This time around, Crew was in the lineup and ODU point guard Jazzmin Walters was not, something the Huskies couldn’t take advantage of.
‘ ‘I think we were able to put some pressure on them early,’ La-Force Mann said. ‘[Guard] Shadasia Green gave them an offensive threat, it was hard to defend her. She was the difference in the game.’
‘ Crew led all players with a career-high 23 points, but the Huskies fell behind 36-16’ at halftime and lost, 70-54. Feldman finished with seven points, while Wilson had six points and seven rebounds.
The Monarchs had four players in double figures, led by Green with 19.
‘ Northeastern returns to Solomon Court Thursday when it faces Georgia State (11-11, 3-8 CAA) at 7 p.m. and Towson (13-8, 5-6 CAA) Sunday at 2 p.m.