BOSTON – Northeastern scored the final eight points of the contest to erase a four-point deficit and beat UNC Wilmington, 54-50, in Colonial Athletic Association women’ s basketball action Thursday at Solomon Court.

The Huskies improved to 5-10 on the season and evened their league mark at 2-2 while the Seahawks dropped to 7-8 on the season and 1-3 in CAA play as they suffered their third straight setback.

Sophomore Jasmine Crew scored a game-high 17 points to lead two Huskies players in double figures as freshman Brittany Wilson pitched in 11 points. Crew also dished out a game-high six assists and grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore Tiffany Crews chipped in eight points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds as the Huskies held a 31-28 edge on the glass. Junior Kim Carr added eight points and a game-best six steals as NU enjoyed a 15-6 advantage in that category.  

Sophomore Brittany Blackwell was the only UNCW player to reach double figures with 12 points as the Seahawks were limited to just 34.9 percent shooting for the contest. Freshman Julia Finlay chipped in a career-high nine points on a trio of three-pointers late in the first half and junior Greta Luksyte pitched in eight points. Sophomore Martha White grabbed a career-high seven rebounds while senior Sahsha Taylor pulled down six caroms.

Trailing 50-46 with 2:58 remaining in the contest, a three-pointer by senior Ashlee Feldman pulled the Huskies within one, 50-49. The two teams traded empty possessions when NU got a second-chance opportunity on a missed three-pointer by junior Kendra Walton, allowing Crew to drive the lane and hit a 10-foot jumper from the right side to take a 51-50 lead with 54 seconds on the clock.

The Seahawks worked the ball inside to Blackwell on their ensuing possession when the ball was stolen by Carr, who got the ball to Crew and was fouled. Crew made both free-throws to increase the lead to 53-50, with 28 seconds remaining.  

UNCW had a chance to the tie the game on its next possession, but Luksyte’s three-pointer was long, allowing Walton to grab the rebound with 10 seconds on the clock. Walton made one of two free-throws to determine the final margin as Finlay missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.    

Earlier in the game, UNCW scored the first five points of the contest before a jumper by Crews started a 10-0 Huskies run that propelled NU to a 10-5 lead with 13:07 remaining in the first half.

The Huskies maintained their lead until a three-pointer by Finlay in the closing seconds of the first half trimmed NU’s halftime cushion to one, 24-23, and sparked a 7-0 spurt for UNCW that extended into the second half and gave the Seahawks a 27-24 cushion with 18:03 left in the contest.

NU regained the lead moments later on back-to-back baskets by Wilson as the two teams traded baskets over the next six minutes when a jumper by Crew ignited a 9-2 NU run that put the Huskies ahead, 44-40, with 6:56 remaining.

The Seahawks responded to the Huskies spurt, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to build a 50-46 cushion and set up the Huskies late-game heroics.   

Both teams return to action Sunday with 2 p.m. CAA road contests. UNCW is at Towson while NU is at George Mason. The Seahawks matchup with the Tigers will serve as the CAA’s Game-of-the-Week and will be televised locally on Time Warner Cable channel 19.  

NOTES: The Huskies enjoyed a 28-8 advantage in the paint ... The Seahawks posted a 25-11 edge in points off the bench ... UNCW knocked down a season-high eight three-pointers ... The Seahawks were held below 35 percent shooting from the floor for the fifth time this season and the second time in as many games ... Taylor was held scoreless for the first time since she was held off the board at Jacksonville State on Dec. 12, 2004 ... UNCW’s six steals were a season-low ... The two teams combined for 23 turnovers in the first half, with the Seahawks committing 13 and the Huskies being charged with 10 ... Blackwell hit her first three of the season at the 5:43 mark of the second half.