College of Charleston
Northeastern
Women?s Hoops Downs Huskies in Comeback Thriller, 56-54
2/23/2015 12:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. – Trailing by ten points with just 3:45 remaining in the game, the College of Charleston women's basketball team put forth their most inspired effort of the season, forcing seven turnovers and scoring 13 of the final 14 points to claim a thrilling, 56-54, come-from-behind victory over Northeastern on Sunday evening at the Cabot Center.
Leading the charge for the Cougars was the play of sophomore sensation Bre Bolden, who finished with a game-high 19 points, including two clutch free throws with just six seconds remaining to give the Cougars their fifth victory of the season. Equally impressive on the other end of the floor, Bolden also proved to be the game's most resolute defender, swiping six steals to up her nationally-ranked thefts per game average to 3.3 per contest. The Edgewater, Md., native now has one steal in each of her last 27 games dating back to the 2013-14 season.
Also contributing offensively for the Cougars was senior sharp-shooter Erin Hall, who pitched in with nine, while junior Shannon Hines provided an incendiary second half display, dropping twelve points – eight of which came over the final seven and a half minutes of play.
Doing the dirty work for The College was the indefatigable presence of senior Christy Hewatt and junior Jacqueline Luna-Castro, who combined for 13 boards against the Huskies. Luna-Castro – a junior from Boise, Idaho – also notched eight points in 34 minutes of action.
It was stately showing for the Cougars who manufactured 28 points in the paint and forced a season-high 24 turnovers (the Cougars also forced 23 turnovers against No. 1 UConn in late-November), while limiting their own giveaways to just 12.
Playing at the Cabot Center for the first time since a dominating 90-74 win over the Huskies last season (a game in which then senior Alyssa Frye dropped a Colonial Athletic Association record 10 three-pointers), the Cougars were the more aggressive team in the early going as back-to-back jumpers from Bolden gave the visitor's a 4-0 lead. The host's quickly responded however, knocking down shots and locking up the Cougars defensively en route to taking a commanding 19-point, 33-14 lead with 1:28 left in the first half. Two free-throws on the Cougars' final possession of the opening stanza then saw the deficit cut to 17 at the halftime whistle.
Relentless, the Cougars came out of the locker room firing, cutting the margin to just eleven at the under-16 media timeout. Steadily chipping away, the deficit was just seven, 45-38, following a mid-range jumper from Hall with 10:16 to play. From there, both teams would trade baskets until a jumper from Northeastern senior A'lece Mark gave the hosts a 10 point, 53-43, lead with 4:48 remaining in the ball game.
In a frenetic final few minutes, Mark's jumper would prove to be the final field goal of the game for Northeastern, as Charleston turned up the heat defensively, forcing three turnovers over the next four possessions – all of which translated in to easy buckets. With 2:18 to play, the Cougars found themselves down just two, 54-52.
After another Husky turnover and a basket from Luna-Castro tied the ball game at 54-54 with just over a minute to go, both teams then failed to execute offensively on their ensuing possessions. With 30 seconds remaining, the ball and the possession arrow, the Huskies found themselves with a chance to take control. Northeastern sophomore Sally Francesca's shot would rattle out; however, leading to the game's defining moment:
A scrum under the net following Francesca's miss led to a loose ball scenario, and it was Luna-Castro who was able to wrestle possession away from the swarming Huskies. Narrowly avoiding a jump ball that would have given Northeastern another possession, Luna-Castro smartly found Bolden at the top of the key, who immediately led a lightning-quick three-on-two fast break in the opposite direction. With time ticking away and teammates filling in the passing lanes on either side of her, Bolden opted to attack the basket herself, slicing her way through the paint and forcing the referee to whistle a Northeastern defender for a clear blocking foul. Clutch, Bolden then stepped up and confidently knocked down both free throws. With six seconds remaining, the frazzled Huskies couldn't execute their final opportunity and a desperation heave missed the mark as time expired, handing the Cougars a gratifying, 56-54 victory.
Up next for CofC is a Thursday night match-up with the Tribe of William & Mary, at TD Arena, where tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
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