BOSTON, Mass. – A 15-0 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters allowed Northeastern University to claim a 72-64 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. The Tigers grabbed a season-high 50 rebounds in the game and were led in those efforts by redshirt junior forward Jordyn Smith, who had a career-high 12 rebounds.

THE BASICS
Northeastern 72, Towson 64
Cabot Center, Boston, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Huskies opened the game on a 6-3 run as Gabby Giacone had a lay-up with six minutes to go in the stanza.
• Towson responded with a 7-0 run of its own and took a 10-6 with 4:02 showing on the clock.
• Senior guard Raven Bankston converted a three-point play at 3:03 which put the visitors ahead 13-9.
• Northeastern scored 17 straight points, in a run that bridged the first and second quarters and took a 26-13 lead with 5:45 to go in the second quarter. The Huskies hit four three-pointers in that run while Claudia Ortiz had six points.
• Towson responded with a 9-0 run of its own, highlighted by four points from senior forward Brianna Bush.
• A running three-pointer from Jess Genco with two seconds to go sent the home team into the half with a 29-22 lead.
• After Northeastern scored the opening bucket of the third quarter, Towson used an 8-0 run to make it a one-point game. The Tigers trailed 31-30 with 5:45 to go in the stanza. Sophomore guard Sianni Martin had four points during that stretch.
• Northeastern used a three-pointer to push its lead back to four, before back-to-back buckets from junior center Daijha Thomas tied the game at 34-34 with 3:10 left on the clock.
• The two teams traded baskets before redshirt sophomore center Maia Lee had a lay-up with 57 seconds to go which gave the Tigers a 40-38 lead.
• Northeastern scored the final two baskets of the third quarter which jumpstarted that crucial 15-0 run which gave the home team a 53-40 lead with 7:09 to play in the game. Ortiz scored 10 of the Huskies' 15 during that stretch.
• A 9-4 run by the visitors pulled Towson to within nine, 60-51 with 3:14 to play. Smith led Towson with three points during that run.
• A pair of foul shots from Ortiz pushed the Northeastern lead back to 11 before Towson used a 10-4 run to make it a five point game, 66-61 with 37 seconds to play. Freshman guard Nukiya Mayo drained a pair of three-pointers during that stretch while Bankston went 3-for-4 from the foul line.
• The two teams traded points before a lay-up from Smith made it a four-point game, 68-64 with 19 seconds to play.
• Northeastern was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line in the final 16 seconds to seal the 72-64 win.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The 50 rebounds for the Tigers were a season-high and the most since the team had 53 at North Florida last November. All 10 Tigers who appeared in the game grabbed at least one rebound.
• Northeastern made 11 three-pointers in the game.
• The Huskies were strong from the foul line (23-for-32), including 18-for-20 in the fourth quarter to hold off the Tigers' comeback attempt.
• Bankston led Towson with 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
• Mayo came off the bench to contribute 10 points and five rebounds while Lee had nine points and seven rebounds.
• Smith added six points to go along with her career-high 12 rebounds.
• Ortiz paced Northeastern with 27 points and 11 rebounds while Maureen Taggert had 20 points.

The Tigers are back in action when they return home to host James Madison on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.