WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Freshman guard
Maddie Vizza scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half as Northeastern rallied to earn its second win in a row, a 63-52 Colonial Athletic Association victory over UNCW at Trask Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Northeastern, which won back-to-back games for just the second time this season, upped its record to 5-11 overall and 4-9 in the CAA. UNCW, meanwhile, dipped to 3-11 overall with an 0-8 mark in league play.
Vizza, the reigning CAA Rookie of the Week, knocked down 5-of-9 three-pointers along with one of two free throws to lead four Northeastern players in double figures. Senior guard
Stella Clark added 14 points while sophomore guard
Mossi Staples came off the bench to add 13 points, including an 8-for-8 showing from the foul line.
Sophomore forward
Mide Oriyomi chipped in a double-double for Northeastern, scoring 10 points with a game-high 11 rebounds.
UNCW, which played its first home game in 48 days, was paced by senior forward
Carol-Anne Obusek, who narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard
Za'Nautica Downs added 15 points with five rebounds while redshirt junior guard
Dazia Powell contributed nine points.
Key Moment: Trailing by a 40-34 margin late in the third quarter, Northeastern strung together a 14-2 run to take a 48-42 advantage the Huskies did not relinquish. The Huskies used four three-pointers during the run, including a pair from Oriyomi, to take control.
Game Notes:
- Northeastern has won 9 of the last 12 contests against UNCW, extending its series lead to 18-11.
- Obusek had her streak of four straight games with a double-double snapped … The Cary, N.C., native extended her streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts to six games in a row.
- Obusek has led the Seahawks in rebounding in eight consecutive games after her nine caroms against Northeastern on Saturday.
- Obusek tallied three blocked shots for the second straight game, giving her 20 rejections on the season … She moved into 10th place on the Seahawks' all-time list with 55 career blocks.
- Downs has scored in double figures in eight straight contests after netting 15 points.
- UNCW outrebounded Northeastern by a 38-36 margin, marking the first time the Seahawks have held the advantage on the glass since Jan. 3, 2021, against Drexel.
- The Seahawks committed more personal fouls than their opponent for the first time this season after being whistled for 17 fouls against Northeastern.
- UNCW set a season low by allowing just 22 points in the first half against Northeastern.
Up Next: UNCW completes the weekend series with Northeastern on Sunday, Feb. 21, with a 1 p.m. contest.
