By Nate Owen

The women’s basketball team shifted into high gear over winter break, winning its first two games of the season and breaking the individual record for three-pointers in a game.

Northeastern’s first win came Dec. 21 against cross-town rival Harvard. The Huskies emerged with an 87-77 victory, largely due to hot-shooting sophomore guard Ashlee Feldman.

Feldman went off for 26 points, including 7-11 from beyond the arc. Her seven three-pointers set the new school record.

Junior guard Lucia Pablos also had a huge night, recording 17 points and 10 assists.

Harvard jumped out to an early lead, but the Huskies rallied, tying the game at 16 at the 13:10 mark in the first half.

Feldman and freshman guard Kateema McLean, who scored 14 points two nights after going off for 29 in her first collegiate start at New Hampshire Dec. 16, helped the Huskies take a nine-point lead midway through the second half. For her efforts, McLean was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week.

Her 29 points against UNH were the most by a Husky since Jan. 1, 2004, when Maralene Zwarich ripped Maryland-Baltimore Country for 39.

Northeastern led by 13 at halftime, thanks in part to forcing 14 Harvard turnovers. The Crimson were able to cut the lead to single digits in the second half, but each time the lead was trimmed to eight, Feldman responded with a score.

The Huskies pushed the lead to 79-68 with 3:54 left and never looked back, giving head coach Daynia La-Force Mann her first Northeastern and Division I win.

La-Force Mann said she challenged Feldman to improve after she struggled in the previous few games.

“I challenged her to be better. [She] was in the gym for two hours [practicing her shot], and she got her confidence back,” she said.

Prior to winter break, the Huskies dropped a heartbreaking 73-67 home loss in overtime to Dartmouth Dec. 9.

The Huskies led 32-23 at the half, but couldn’t hold it, as Dartmouth went on an 18-8 run to open the second half, and outscored the Huskies 14-8 in overtime for the win.

Sophomore forward Joanna Ausmann and junior guard Shaleyse Smallwood led the Huskies with 13 points each, while junior forward Stefanie Hodell dominated the glass with 16 rebounds to go along with 11 points.

On Sunday, CAA opponent Towson came to Solomon Court with a 10-2 record. That didn’t stop the Huskies, as they opened up a 36-28 halftime lead, en route to a 65-52 win in one of their best overall efforts of the season.

Hodell continued to cement her reputation as one of the premier post players in the CAA, putting up 13 points and pulling down 16 boards. With an average of 11.8 rebounds over the past eight games, she is currently ranked seventh in the CAA, averaging 8.7 per game.

Feldman posted 14 points, while Pablos had 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds. After starting the year on the bench, Pablos has stepped in the starting lineup in place of injured captain Jody Burrows and currently ranks 10th in the CAA in assists0 per game (3.29) and seventh in field goal percentage (.475).

“[Pablos] is doing everything I expected her to do,” La-Force Mann said. “She has definitely stepped up and taken the role [of a leader].”