The Northeastern women’s basketball team (1-17, 0-9 CAA) suffered another devastating defeat against the University of Delaware Blue Hens (5-14, 2-7 CAA) 62-54 on Alumni and National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
The game opened up with the highest scoring quarter of the game. Although Northeastern won the tip, the Blue Hens scored first with a steal and a transition layup to go up 2-0. Senior guard Camille Clement was quick to put the Huskies ahead with a three-pointer, but it was swiftly matched to put Delaware up 5-3.
The back-and-forth action continued until Northeastern gave up a wide open layup to Delaware to put them up 11-9 right before a media timeout with just over four minutes left in the quarter.
Out of the timeout, Delaware scored off a layup and a three-pointer to increase its lead to 16-9. Redshirt sophomore guard Abby Jegede scored the next two for the Huskies off a quick shot with one second remaining on the shot clock off an out-of-bounds play. Both teams added two points before a putback shot by Delaware to put them up 20-13. Jegede added the final points of the quarter off a successful and-1 to cut the lead to 20-16.
To start off the second quarter, both teams exchanged layups before a flurry of turnovers as a result of unsettled play by both teams. Frustration was clear on the Blue Hens’ faces, and it showed in their play as they only made 3-20 field goal attempts. Still, Northeastern’s 4-18 made field goal attempts kept the game close.
There were almost four minutes without scoring until a three-pointer for Delaware. There was another almost two-minute scoring drought before a layup for the Blue Hens was answered with a three-pointer by Jegede.
Northeastern added two more off a jumper by freshman guard María Sánchez Pitarch cut the Blue Hens’ lead to 27-23. Delaware added a sole point off a free throw, but a three-pointer by sophomore guard Yirsy Quéliz was the final blow of the quarter to bring the score to 28-26 Delaware.
The third quarter came with lots of frustration for Delaware and rising excitement in Cabot Center for the Huskies, despite the quarter ending with only a one-point difference between the teams.
The Blue Hens scored first with a layup and two made free throws to go up 32-26, but the Huskies were ready to fight. Both teams kept firing off shots with Delaware just getting the edge, going up 39-32 before a media timeout.
Out of the timeout, both teams made a three-pointer each and Jegede made two free throws out of four attempts to bring it to 42-37. Despite Delaware adding a three-pointer before a timeout, the play immediately out of the timeout gave the Huskies the edge.
Quéliz had a steal and got fouled, pushing the Huskies into the bonus. On the line, Quéliz sunk both of her shots to cut the once eight-point lead back down to two with 39 seconds remaining. Quéliz’s trip to the line was followed with an offensive foul by Delaware that electrified Cabot as Delaware players and coaches became increasingly frustrated with their play and the calls by the referees.
Jegede added the final point of the quarter off a free throw to end the quarter 45-44 Delaware.
As the fourth quarter began, it was clear the Blue Hens were angry and itching to get the win off the Huskies. A layup and two made free throws increased Delaware’s lead back up to five.
A Northeastern steal and three-pointer by Quéliz fired up Cabot momentarily, but the Blue Hens were on. The Blue Hens went on five-point run, aided by Northeastern racking up five fouls and putting Delaware in the bonus with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
Quéliz hit her third three-pointer of the game to cut the lead back down to four, but a costly almost two minutes of no scoring late made it difficult for the Huskies to come back.
Jegede made two free throws with just over two minutes remaining, but with the Blue Hens in the bonus, fouling only got the Huskies so far. The Blue Hens scored six of their eight last points off foul shots, and Northeastern failed to capitalize on its opportunities to score due to missed shots and repeated turnovers.
The lone points scored by Northeastern in the last two minutes of the game came as a layup by redshirt junior guard Natalie Larrañaga, bringing the final score to 62-54 with the Blue Hens on top.
The Huskies continue to search for their first home and conference win of the season. They are back in action Feb. 7 against the Campbell University Camels (12-9, 5-4 CAA) Feb. 7.
