February 2014

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Upcoming Games

FEB. 2       UNCW*

FEB. 4       TOWSON*

Feb. 7      James Madison

Feb. 9      College of Charleston

FEB. 13     WILLIAM & MARY*

Feb. 20    Hofstra  

FEB. 23     DREXEL*

Feb. 27    William & Mary

MAR 2      DELAWARE*

MAR 5     JAMES MADISON *

 

 

(Bold)* - Home games 

 

 

  ALL regular season home games are available live and archived at:

 

 GoNU.com/XStream 

February Events

FEB. 13     Faculty & Staff Game

FEB. 23     Breast Cancer Game

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coach's Corner

Hey Husky Fans!

 

Our conference season is shaping up to be a tough slate. We are taking it one game at a time, using practices and film sessions to learn from our mistakes. As a young team who has recently experienced unexpected injuries, we are rallying together to play for those who cannot. Dressing only eight for a number of our games throughout the month of January was difficult, however every challenge makes us a stronger team. Our freshmen and sophomores, the bulk of our team, continue to learn on the fly and are showing great improvements. 

As a team our athletes committed to improving their communication throughout the month of January, and as a result, we are starting to see positive outcomes. We lost two close games toward the end of January to the teams who finished first and second last season, Delaware and Drexel. The month of February will present new obstacles, but I am confident in our ability to rise to each and everyone challenge. If we continue to improve throughout the month of February, we will peak at the perfect time - the CAA tournament. 

Outside of basketball, the month of January was definitely significant for our team. Coach Blake received amazing news that his son Brian is now cancer-free! We couldn't be happier for Coach Blake and his family. They have taught our team a great deal throughout this battle. We came together as a family and we confronted Brian's cancer head on. As a result, Brian is now recovering from the intense treatments he has received over the past couple months, and he can now say that he is cancer-free. 

 

This past month also marked the start to a busy Spring semester. With four road games in four weeks, our team spent a great deal of classroom time on the road. With the being said, they have been persistent in utilizing the academic services available to them and continue to excel in the classroom. As a staff we expect nothing less from our student-athletes in the classroom than we do on the court. 

 

We are a much stronger team than we were at the start of this season. We continue to improve each and everyday as a result of our hard work on and off the court. I hope that you will come out and support us in the month of February as we continue to prepare for the CAA tournament!

  

Best,


Coach La-Force

Newsletter 'News'
Northeastern Athletics Alumni Challenge

For the past three years, Northeastern Athletics has issued a challenge to all of its women's teams to try to drive alumni donor participation. Each year, the women's teams have gone to work and dramatically increased their alumni donor participation.

Due to the success of the women's teams, Northeastern Athletics is now issuing a challenge to all of the men's teams, as well.
 
To participate, current and former student-athletes from all teams, regardless of gender, must donate to their respective team's fund. Every current and former student-athlete who makes a gift, of any amount, between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, will be counted.

The teams with the highest percentage of their alumni base who give back will win $5,000.
 
Once a Husky, always a Husky. Support your team today.
 
To make your gift, visit GoNU.com/GiveOnline and select Women's Basketball from the drop-down menuThe previous link will be available in sidebar on all subsequent newslletters for your reference.
 
 
 

Season Update

Tunstull Recognized for Notching her 1000th Career Point 
Tunstull being honored before tip off against College of Charleston for scoring her 1000th-career point 
 
5th Annual Northeastern Women's Basketball Alumni Day   
Northeastern Women's Basketball 5th Annual Alumni Game
The Northeastern women's basketball program hosted its fifth annual Alumni Game on Jan. 19 at Cabot Center to honor Huskies past and present.

Northeastern alumnae took the court prior to the women's basketball game on Sunday to reunite with old teammates and cheer on the current players as they faced the College of Charleston later that afternoon.

The roster included familiar faces such as Deanna Kerkhof, who graduated from NU in 2013 with the program's fourth-best career free-throw percentage (78.8). Kerkhof, who has stayed involved in the program this season as the graduate assistant, was the 15th player in program history to reach 1,000-career points. Kashaia Cannon ('13), who was the next NU player to reach the 1,000-point mark and now serves as Director of Basketball Operations for Northeastern, also participated in the event.
 
Jamie Conroy ('12), who set the individual season record for assists with 157 in 2011-12, reunited with former teammate Kendra Walton ('10), who earned her way in the record books after notching 172 three-pointers over her collegiate career.

Ashlee Feldman ('09), NU's all-time leader in career free-throw percentage (90.4) and Maralene Zwarich ('07), who ranks fifth on Northeastern's all-time scoring leaders list (1,463 points), made an appearance in the contest. Shaleyse Smallwood ('08), the 2004-05 America East Rookie of the Year who ranks fourth on NU's all-time scoring leaders list with 1,479 points, also suited up for the Alumni Game.

Earlier graduates of the program who returned to Northeastern for the event included Crystal Houston ('83), Michelle Lynne ('07), Nora Mitchell ('96), and Cheryl Robinson ('95).

Head coach Daynia La-Force was pleased with the turnout at the event and was excited to reconnect former players with the current student-athletes.
 
"It was great to see the alumni come out to support the players," said La-Force. "We are grateful to them for their efforts as student-athletes in building a program, which we are all extremely proud to represent." 
 
 
NU snags first Colonial win; defeats UNCW, 64-50 
#23 Samantha Defreese, Sophomore Guard   
The Northeastern women's basketball team snagged its first Colonial Athletic Association victory when it defeated UNC Wilmington, 64-50, on Thursday night at Trask Coliseum.

With the win, the Huskies hold a 7-7 overall record and own a 1-0 conference mark. The Seahawks fall to 1-14 on the season and 0-1 in CAA play.

"It feels great to get that first conference win," said head coach Daynia La-Force. "When you start CAA play, everyone starts 0-0, so we knew [UNCW] would come out strong."

Junior guard A'lece Mark set the pace for the Huskies and led all scorers after recording her fourth 20-point game this season with 21 points. Tiffany Montagne and Amencie Mercier joined Mark in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Samantha DeFreese tallied a career-best 16 rebounds and added seven points, while Jewel Tunstull,Kazzidy Stewart and Francesca Sally contributed 13 points, collectively. 
 
Game Notes 
Samantha DeFreese tallied a career-best 16 rebounds.
A'lece Mark notched her fourth 20-point game of the year with 21 points to lead all scorers.
* The Huskies held UNCW to just 50 points to tie for fewest points allowed this year.
* Three Huskies hit two or more 3-pointers for the third time this season.
* Every player recorded at least one rebound for the second time this year. 

  

  

NU Women's Basketball Comes Together to Support #TeamBlake

#CAAHoops In Focus: Northeastern Huskies Women's Basketball - #TeamBlake
#CAAHoops In Focus: Northeastern Huskies Women's Basketball - #TeamBlake
  
The Colonial Athletic Association recently took a look inside the Northeastern women's basketball program as part of its #CAAHoops In Focus series. The feature dove deeper than the Huskies' on-court exploits to uncover a different side of the team: its ability to rally around adversity.


Earlier this year, associate head coach Tom Blake received news that his son, Brian, had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. In the time since the video was released by the conference, Coach Blake has shared the exciting update that Brian underwent surgery and has been declared cancer-free.

From the very beginning of Brian's journey, the entire team has rallied to support Coach Blake and Brian in their continuous battle with the disease.

"When we first found out that Coach Blake's son Brian had cancer, it really affected the whole program," said head coach Daynia La-Force. "It affected his entire family, including us."

Referring to the team as a 'family' has been a constant theme throughout the year, showing just how close the group has become and how connected they feel to the Blake family. The group coined the term "Team Blake" to refer to the single unit that encompasses both the Blake family and the entire women's basketball program. They all feel part of the same team when it comes to supporting each other.

"We're more than just a basketball team," said junior guard A'lece Mark. "We are a family. Everybody is here for each other."

The team showed its support for Team Blake at the Brian Honan Foundation 5k walk this past September, donning Northeastern basketball shirts that read: "Brian Blake: His fight is our fight".

The walk held special meaning among the team's other community service pursuits because of the personal connection the women felt as they proudly wore their Team Blake shirts. Coach Blake, his wife, and Brian also have Team Blake shirts that link them to their Northeastern support system.

"I have a picture of Brian and my wife in the hospital," Coach Blake explains. "She's sitting on the bed next to him; they're both wearing their shirts."

Not only has the team played a major role in supporting Coach Blake and Brian during this difficult experience, but the Blake family has also inspired the women and given them a new perspective on their own lives.

"One thing we learned from this is that when adversity hits, you've got to keep fighting," said Mark. "I think this is what Coach Blake and his son have taught us."

Although Brian's journey isn't over, the Northeastern women's basketball team will continue to support both its coach and his son, and La-Force is confident that Team Blake will stick together during the ups and downs of this difficult time.

"We were tested with this situation and we're still all standing, we're still all there supporting him, we're still all there fighting every day for him," said La-Force. "I wouldn't expect anything less from family." 

Donor of the Month - Hildegard Regan
 
Hildegard Regan graduated from Northeastern with a BS in Education. She went on to obtain her MS in Education and Administration and is currently a successful Project Manager. Throughout the years since she graduated from Northeastern, she has consistently donated to the Women's Basketball program.  We want to take a moment to recognize Hildegard for her continued support and to say - 
Thank You, we appreciate everything you have given to our program!

 

Player Profile

 

#10 Kazzidy Stewart

 

Position: Guard
Height5-9
ClassSophomore
HometownLanham, Md.
High SchoolSt. John's College
 
2013-14: Has played in all fifteen games this season, starting in eight ... grabbed nine points and a career-high eight rebounds at Boston University (Nov. 8) ... had a point, four rebounds, two assists and two steals against Rutgers (Nov. 13) ... collected three points, two rebounds and two steals at New Hampshire (Nov. 16) ... posted eight points and three rebounds at Rhode Island (Nov. 20) ... notched 12 points, two rebounds and a steal against NJIT (Nov. 23) ... tallied a career-high 25 points, eight rebounds, an assist and a steal against Harvard (Nov. 26) ... registered five points, two rebounds and an assist at Holy Cross (Dec. 4)...tallied 14 points and seven rebounds in a win over Maine (Dec. 15)...contributed seven points, one assist and two steals at Marist (Dec. 18)...added six points and five assists in a win over Massachusetts (Dec. 21)...chipped in four points against Tulane (Dec. 28)...tallied eleven points against Northwestern (Dec. 29)...contributed 10 points and two steals at Albany (Jan. 4)...recorded six points and one rebound against UNCW (Jan. 9)...registered five points versus Towson (Jan. 12).


2012-13: Appeared in 28 games, making one start...finished with 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds per game...grabbed a rebound in her first career appearance at Eastern Michigan (Nov. 11)...scored six points on a pair of three pointers at La Salle (Nov. 15)...picked up a rebound at Temple (Nov. 17)...scored seven points on 3-3 shooting and grabbed three rebounds vs. Boston University (Nov. 20)...scored two points with three rebounds and two assists vs. Dartmouth (Nov. 27)...scored four points and snagged two boards at NJIT (Dec. 1)...had two points, two rebounds and two steals vs. Massachusetts (Dec. 22)...scored four points and grabbed three rebounds with two assists against Rhode Island (Jan. 3)...grabbed a rebound vs. William & Mary (Jan. 10)...scored two points at James Madison (Jan. 13)...scored three points with two rebounds and two assists in her first career start at Georgia State (Jan. 17)...scored two points at George Mason (Jan. 22)...notched three points and a rebound vs. Drexel (Jan. 24)...scored three points vs. Towson (Feb. 3)...tallied an assist and a steal at Old Dominion (Feb. 17)...scored two points and dished out three assists with two steals vs. Georgia State (Feb. 21)...dropped four points and snared two rebounds at UNCW (Feb. 24)...scored five points at Towson

(Feb. 28)

Before NUPlayed four years of varsity basketball at St. John's College high school, captaining two...earned WCAC recognition as a junior...was named a DC Sports Fan Future Players All-Stat as a sophomore.

PersonalBorn January 1, 1994...plans to major in engineering...hopes to pursue a career as an engineer or doctor...was a peer minister in high school...also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and National Society of High School Scholars.
Happy Birthday!
 
   Sam Defreese - Feb 5
 
Captain's Corner
Amencie Mercier

Greetings to our friends and family! I'm sure you are all wondering what we've been up to these past few weeks. This month, we have been extremely busy with school, practices, and games. This semester we travel much more than the last and we have fewer days to prepare for games. This is always a challenging time for us and because we are a young team, we have to make the extra effort to ensure that we are doing everything we are supposed to do. We always encourage the younger girls to communicated with the upperclassmen if they need help with anything. As upperclassmen, we make sure to check on them to verify that they are on track.

 

A couple weeks ago, the alumni game took place on Solomon court. We had the opportunity to meet former Northeastern athletes and to reconnect with those who some of us used to play with. We enjoyed watching them playing and having a good time. They stayed to watch our game and it was great to have their support.  We then had the chance to have dinner with them afterwards. This was a significant event because it allowed us to get to know former members who know what it's like to be in our situations. We can relate to them because they understand the hard work and dedication we must put in every single day. The women we spent our time with that day are great role models for us and we appreciate their support.

 

Speaking of support, we give just that to Coach Blake and his family. Having a son being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming and frustrating, but he shows us just how strong he really is by continuing to be there for us and for his son Brian. We all understood that we had to be there for him and we continue to show his entire family our support. The bottom line is that we are a family. When one of us faces adversity, we all face adversity. Brian's fight is our fight! Brian was recently told that he is now cancer-free! As we celebrate with the Blake family this wonderful news, we also keep Brian in ours prayers as he is still recovering from the treatment and surgeries he has undergone throughout this journey.