BOSTON, Mass. – The William and Mary women's basketball team used a 9-0 run to open the second overtime and held on for a 72-66 victory at Northeastern in Boston on Super Bowl Sunday. Sophomore
Marlena Tremba scored a game-high 22 points to lead four Tribe players in double-figures. With the win, the Tribe won its third straight game and improved to 10-11, 4-6 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Huskies fall to 4-16, 1-9 in league action.
Tremba added two rebounds and two steals to go along with her 22 points. Sophomore Alexandra Masaquel finished with her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds to go along with two assists, two blocks, and four steals. Senior Jazmen Boone added 10 points and five rebounds, while classmate Kyla Kerstetter chipped in 11 points and six boards.
Leading by two points, Northeastern used a 6-0 run to take its first eight-point lead of the game. Samantha DeFreese sandwiched four points around a Francesca Sally layup to account for the scoring.
The Tribe battled back, but the Huskies used a quick 6-0 run to rebuild its eight-point lead. A'Leace Mark hit a free throw, followed by a triple from Amencie Mercier, and Mark ended the run with a layup to make the score 21-13 with 5:47 to play in the half.
W&M closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 24-23 lead into the locker room. The run opened on a triple from freshman Jenna Green, matched by a 3-pointer from classmate Jeanne Gaumont. The Tribe took its first lead of the game on a three ball from Kerstetter. After a Huskies basket, Kerstetter hit a runner at the free throw line to give the Tribe the 24-23 lead, which they held at the break.
The Tribe opened the second half on a 5-2 run to open its biggest lead of half at four points. Boone opened up the period with a jumper. After a Huskies' basket, Tremba completed a traditional 3-point play to give the Tribe a 29-25 advantage.
Northeastern, which trailed by four points, used a 10-2 run to take a 35-31 lead with 15:14 remaining. Loren Lassiter sparked the run with a jumper followed by a Sally layup. Following a Tremba basket, the Huskies scored the next four points on baskets by DeFreese and Kazzidy Stewart.
W&M responded with a 10-2 run to give themselves a two point lead with 12:33 remaining. Kerstetter kick started the run with a pair from the free throw line. After a Huskies bucket, Gaumont responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Tribe a 39-37 lead, before Masaquel extended the Tribe lead back to four with a layup.
Neither team was able to build a lead larger than four down the stretch. With the game tied at 51-51, Northeastern had a chance to win it, but the Tribe came up with a steal. Out of a timeout, Tremba fired a 3-pointer from the right corner, but it rimmed out. On the ensuing rebound, Masaquel's putback attempt rolled off at the end of regulation.
The first overtime was a defensive battle between the two teams. Trailing by two, Masaquel hit a putback to tie the score at 55-55 with 30 seconds remaining, Again the Tribe forced a steal on the Huskies last offensive possession, but Tremba's 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds was short.
W&M opened the second overtime on a 9-0 run and never looked back. Tremba opened the period with a triple from straight on, which was followed by baskets from Boone, Masaquel, and Tremba, who capped the run with a layup. The rally led the Tribe to a 64-55 lead with 1:14 left in the second extra session. Northeastern tried to rally, cutting the score to three, but the Tribe was able to make enough free throws to hang on for the 72-66 victory.
The Green and Gold forced Northeastern into 29 turnovers on 16 steals. It was the 11th time this season W&M forced more than 20 miscues in a game. Masaquel led the Tribe with four thefts, while Green finished with three.
W&M also dished out 16 assists, while only turning the ball over 13 times. Green led the way for the Tribe with seven dimes.
For the 12th time this season, the College shot better than 40-percent from the field. W&M finished the game shooting 41.5-percent (27-of-65) from the floor.
The Tribe, which played its third overtime game of the season, picked up its first win in extra time this season. It was W&M's first double overtime affair since March 5, 2014 when the Tribe fell in double overtime to Hofstra.
Gaumont turned in a career-high nine points for the Tribe. The Saint-Lambert, Quebec native finished shooting 3-of-4 from behind the line, the three made triples was also a career-high.
DeFreese paced the Huskies with 18 points and 13 rebounds, registering a double-double. She was one of three Northeastern players in double-figures including, Amencie Mercier with 13 and Sally with 10 points.
The College continues its season long CAA road trip with a pair of road games next weekend. The Tribe travels to Philadelphia to take on Drexel on Friday, Feb. 6, before traveling to New York to play Hofstra on Sunday, Feb. 8. The game against Drexel is set for 7 p.m. on Friday. The Hofstra game, which will be broadcasted on the American Sports Network is set for a 1 p.m. tip.
