By Aren LeBrun, News Correspondent
In a game decided on the glass, the Northeastern women’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the University of Delaware Blue Hens in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) women’s basketball tournament.
“The effort was definitely there tonight, we just weren’t disciplined with some of the things we needed to do to take them out of their game,” Northeastern head coach Daynia La-Force said. “Definitely their offensive rebounding, I think 20 second chance points, hurt us.”
Despite jumping to a quick 12-5 advantage and holding a ten-point lead early in the second half, the Huskies were not able to withstand a late-game run by the two-time defending league champion Blue Hens, who survived by a final score of 63-61. The last two meetings between the Huskies and Blue Hens have been decided by a total of three points.
“It was playing against a team who had won almost 20 games this season, and them knowing how to come back from a 10 point deficit” said La-Force. “We were playing against a very good team tonight.”
In her last game in a Northeastern Huskies uniform, senior center Jewel Tunstull carried the load. The All-CAA first team member scored 12 points and collected a game-high 14 rebounds, notching her 14th double-double of the 2013-14 season. Sophomore forward Samantha DeFreese had a strong game as well, pouring in a team-high 16 points to go with eight rebounds and a pair of steals.
Kelsey Buchanan, who joined Tunstull on the All-CAA first team, led the way for the Blue Hens. The 6’ 3” senior center scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 12 boards.
It was Delaware who struck first and took an early three-point lead to begin the contest. Junior guard Tanisha Hopewell buried a jumper to spark what would become 10 straight points for the Huskies, who moved in front 12-5.
Consecutive layups by Delaware stopped the momentum, but Northeastern quickly regained control with an 8-2 run, punctuated with a three-pointer from junior point guard and captain Amencie Mercier.
With the Huskies enjoying a decent cushion, Delaware began its surge. The Blue Hens scored 11 straight to close out the half while holding Northeastern to just one shot. The teams entered their respective locker rooms with the score knotted up at 29 apiece.
Tunstull got things started for Northeastern with a layup to open the second half. Delaware responded with a layup. A pair of free throws pushed the Blue Hens in front by two points, but not for long. Sophomore guard Kazzidy Stewart answered the call, splashing in back-to-back long balls to send the Huskies on a red hot 12-0 run to secure a 10 point lead.
Delaware, a team that swept the conference tournament during the previous two seasons, began to respond to the pressure. Freshman guard Erika Brown buried a triple and her team scored seven straight points to pull to within two.
Just over the midway point in the half, UD came to within a point of Northeastern, but the Huskies held on. The Blue Hens continued to knock at the door, tying the game at both 49 and 51 apiece.
After a Delaware layup put them up by two, junior guard and captain A’lece Mark was called for a charge, her fifth and final foul of the contest. Mark finished with 10 points and six assists, but it was not enough, as an Erika Brown free throw gave Delaware a cushion that they would not give up.
Northeastern shot 37 percent (22-60) from the floor on the night, including 35 (7-20) percent from three-point territory. Delaware connected on 37 percent (20-56) of their field goals, though just 25 percent (3-12) from long range. A large factor in the game’s outcome came at the free throw line, as Delaware made more free throws (20) than Northeastern even attempted (15).
“I thought our effort was there, but we lacked discipline, something we’ve been struggling with all season,” La-Force said.
This loss ends Northeastern’s season, one that began with the Huskies picked third overall in a CAA preseason ranking. The team did not quite live up to expectations, with a record of 12-18 and just 6-10 in the conference. That CAA record was good for seventh overall.
Next year, the Huskies are returning an experienced backcourt in Mark and Mercier. The duo of juniors combined for 23.3 points and 7.2 assists per game this season. Also returning are sophomore sharpshooters Tiffany Montagne (8.4 ppg, 39 percent from three) and Stewart (7.2 ppg, 36 percent from three).
Another returning bright spot is forward Samantha DeFreese. The versatile sophomore had a breakout season, averaging 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and taking home a CAA Player of the Week honor.
Although there are strong returners, the loss of Tunstull is going to be difficult to overcome. The team’s lone senior is saying goodbye to her teammates after a stellar four year campaign as a Husky. She led the Huskies in seven statistical categories, including a field goal percentage (53.3) that ranks 45th overall in the NCAA. “She’s a great kid to have in the program,” La-Force said of Tunstull, whose All-CAA first team honors were the first for a Northeastern player since the team came over from the America East in 2005. “Always has a smile on her face.”
