WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Redshirt junior guard
GiGi Smith and redshirt senior guard
Shrita Parker combined to score 39 points, including 21 in the second half, to propel UNCW to its 10th consecutive home victory with an 83-70 triumph over Northeastern in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action at Trask Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who have won five of their last seven games, improved to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the CAA. Northeastern, meanwhile, suffered its fifth loss in the last six games to run its record to 14-6 overall with a 4-5 mark in league play.
Smith, who scored a game-high 20 points, made 8-of-17 field goal attempts, including a 3-for-5 showing from three-point range, en route to her fifth 20-point effort of the season. The Norfolk, Va., product also contributed five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes.
Parker added a 19-point effort in the victory, connecting on 7-of-13 shots from the field and 4-of-5 free throws. She also added four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Senior center
Chinyere Bell nearly posted a double-double for the Seahawks, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds. The Fayetteville, N.C., native sank 6-of-7 field goal attempts and both of her free throws while chipping in two assists.
Junior guard
Lacey Suggs completed the Seahawks' quartet of double-digit scorers by adding 15 points with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Northeastern was led by junior guard Shannon Todd, who scored 18 points with five rebounds.
Key Moment: UNCW used six early points from Smith to build a 13-6 advantage in the game's opening five minutes. The Huskies narrowed the gap to six points midway through the fourth quarter, but were unable to get any closer as UNCW used a 10-0 burst to secure the victory.
Up Next: UNCW resumes its four-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 8, when the Seahawks welcome two-time defending CAA champion Elon to Trask Coliseum for a 7 p.m. league contest.
