Another comeback effort was denied for the Northeastern women’s basketball team as they dropped another game to defending CAA regular-season champion, James Madison University, 67-54.

With James Madison (15-3, 6-1 CAA) starting the game strong on an 11-2 lead, it was a tough uphill battle from then on for the Huskies (8-10, 4-3 CAA) once again. Freshman guard Mossi Staples ended the drought with a triple immediately followed by a layup made by freshman guard Century Mccartney to get game within six points. Despite NU shooting 57.9 percent over JMU’s 37.5 percent, the Huskies still ended the quarter down, 11-16.

Mccartney pulled through again for the Huskies in the second quarter as she sank two baskets, giving the Huskies four early points leaving them within five points. Freshman guard Anna Boruta’s trey with a little over two minutes left to play in the half brought the game within two points. The second quarter ended tied 18 points a side as NU rallied to shoot 58 percent during the first half but ended the quarter still down by five.

During the third quarter, JMU went on a 9-0 run that was finally ended by a midrange jumper from NU sophomore forward Alexis Hill. Staples then converted on a great steal into a breakaway bucket. With another mirror quarter, the Huskies headed into the fourth quarter down by five again.

JMU pulled away from the hanging Huskies in the fourth quarter as they outscored NU, 11-19. Northeastern ultimately lost to JMU, 54-67.

A positive for Northeastern during this contest was that they forced 18 turnovers, the third-most that JMU has had this season. Junior guard Stella Clark, who played the full game, nearly pulled through with a double-double having 14 points and 9 rebounds to her name while Hill also joined the double digits club for this game with 13 points.

Northeastern will have a rematch with home-court advantage against JMU February 21, but their next game will be against the College of Charleston on Jan 31 at 7 p.m. at Cabot Center as they enter a four-game stint at home.