Northeastern 3-pointers drop Mason in OT

By Connect Mason Sports Director Damien Sordelett

On senior night, a team that had lost six straight was not looking to lay down for anyone, including a team riding a five-game winning streak.

It does not help, however, how streaks can sometimes be contagious.

Despite the Patriots placing four players in double figures for the first time this season, Northeastern got nine points from Ashlee Feldman in overtime and the Huskies pulled away from the Patriots in the final five minutes to win 83-77 before 817 at the Patriot Center Thursday night.

For Feldman, her three 3-pointers capped off a 17-point performance and gave the Huskies more momentum heading into the CAA Tournament and kept the Patriots on their current slide.

“She hit those big 3’s. That just really hurt us,” George Mason coach Debbie Taneyhill said.

Down 65-57 with five minutes left, George Mason (9-20, 3-15 CAA) went on a 12-4 run to tie the contest at 69 on a Lateisha Wade lay up that sent the game into overtime.

“We just picked up our defensive intensity,” said Wade, who scored 11 points in her final home contest. “Once we got stops, we started making baskets and once person got rolling, we just all tried to pick up their energy.”

The Patriots had to pick up the defensive intensity after Northeastern (13-15, 8-10 CAA) built a 29-12 lead with 5 1/2-minutes left in the first half. That was capped off by a 21-4 Huskies run that saw them hit seven consecutive shots.

“We just started to play better,” Taneyhill said. “They fought their way back into it and obviously made some big plays in the second half.”

Moni Akintunde lead the way for the Patriots with 21 points, constantly using spin moves and elegant jumpers to create problems for the Huskies’ interior defense. She was joined in double figures by Rashauna Hobbs with 16 and Brittany Eley with 12.

“[Moni] was really tough tonight. I think it was a great senior game for her and for Teisha Wade to make the lay up to send it into overtime,” Taneyhill said. “Big plays from both of those two and from Rashauna Hobbs, finally stepped up and made some shots tonight. Real proud of the effort.”

Lucia Pablos lead the way for the Huskies with 21 points. Kim Carr and Shaleyse Smallwood added 11 and 10 respectively.

Notes: This marked the last home game for Wade, Akintunde, Casey Quigley and C'Vette Henson... The Patriots and Huskies will meet in the first round of the CAA Tournament on Thursday, March 13 in Newark, Del.