Stopping Delaware’s Jasmine Dickey has proven to be a near impossible task for all challengers this season. The nation’s third-leading scorer is a threat from anywhere, and Northeastern certainly felt that Sunday, as Dickey lit up the Huskies with 31 points and 10 rebounds. A huge fourth quarter allowed Delaware to put Northeastern away, 79-60. The Blue Hens stay undefeated in CAA play and the Huskies are now 2-2.
Northeastern has struggled all year to stay under the 20 turnover mark for a full 40 minutes. On Sunday they turned the ball over 18 times in the first half alone. The two squads combined for 33 turnovers in a sloppy first 20 minutes that also saw both sides miss plenty of open looks. Northeastern ended the contest with a season-high 28 turnovers.
But not only was Northeastern unable to hold onto the ball, they couldn’t even grab it off the glass. Delaware’s imposing presence on the interior allowed them to out rebound the Huskies 26-14 in the first half, with reigning CAA player of the week Ty Battle logging a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double in the first half alone. No matter what matchup the Huskies threw on her on the defensive end — Emily Calabrese, Leyla Ӧztürk, Asha Parker, and Izzy Larsen all found themselves matched up on Battle — she found positioning and pulled down rebounds. It led to Northeastern being down 10 at the half.
The Huskies managed a strong third quarter despite the rough first half. Northeastern managed to win the rebound battle 11-9 in the quarter, and with Battle off the court for the Blue Hens, the Huskies ended the frame on a 9-3 run. They capped the quarter off with a slick pass from Larsen to Parker for a layup with five seconds left to cut the Delaware lead to four.
But Delaware put the Huskies away in the fourth. Even while playing with four fouls, Dickey first hit a huge three then continued to knock down her free throws. But the dagger came with a Paris McBride stepback three to stretch the Delaware lead to 11. McBride added another triple moments later, then Dickey converted an and-one to cap a late 16-2 Blue Hen run. The Blue Hens outscored Northeastern 31-16 in the final frame.
Battle ended the game with 15 points and 19 rebounds, her eighth double-double of the season. Eleven of her 19 rebounds came on the offensive glass. McBride added 12 points, eight of which came in the fourth.
Calabrese led Northeastern with 18 points, playing the game with a black eye she sustained in the loss to Drexel Friday. Kendall Currence added 13 for the Huskies.
Northeastern returns to action Friday against Elon at the Cabot Center before hosting William & Mary on Sunday. Whether WRBB will be calling the game in person remains unclear, but we will be providing written coverage regardless.