Northeastern University’s women’s basketball team lost to Drexel University 72-61 on Friday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia. Camryn Collins, returning to the lineup, led Northeastern with 15 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and adding four assists and a steal in 28 minutes. Justice Tramble contributed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Morgan Matthews scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Taylor Holohan came off the bench to record seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Despite Northeastern’s strong shooting performance—making 51 percent of their shots against a Drexel defense that entered the game allowing just 56.7 points per game—the Huskies could not contain Drexel guard Laine McGurk. McGurk finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including four three-pointers and six free throws without a miss. Amaris Baker added 12 points for Drexel, while Bria Watkins contributed nine off the bench.
Northeastern started well, building an early nine-point lead following a three-pointer by Matthews and baskets from Collins and Tramble. However, Drexel closed the gap by the end of the first quarter with key plays from McGurk and Grace O’Neill to tie the score at 18.
The second quarter remained close as Collins tied the game twice with layups and pull-up jumpers. Alyssa Staten’s layup and free throw in the final seconds of the half brought Northeastern level at halftime, with both teams tied at 31.
Drexel took control in the third quarter, outscoring Northeastern 25-11. The Dragons capitalized on seven Huskies turnovers during this period to create fast-break opportunities and easy baskets. McGurk scored eleven points in this quarter alone as Drexel built a lead that reached as many as seventeen points before entering the fourth quarter ahead by fourteen.
In the final period, Northeastern outscored Drexel but could not overcome the deficit. Tramble drove to the basket for several layups while Kailee Beaudion-Foliaki added free throws. Most of Northeastern’s fourth-quarter scoring came inside as they reversed earlier struggles in second-chance opportunities.
A significant factor was Drexel’s dominance on second-chance points; they recorded fifteen compared to just two for Northeastern over three quarters. The Dragons also outrebounded Northeastern by seven boards (33-26) and converted nine of fourteen second-chance field goal attempts.
Northeastern will return home to face Hampton at Cabot Center on Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m., followed by their regular season finale against Hofstra on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m.
