NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of momentum, the Merrimack Warriors erupted for 32 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a resilient Northeastern squad and secure an 83-65 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Volpe Athletic Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 694, appeared to be a tightly contested battle through three quarters before the Warriors unleashed a dominant final period to pull away decisively.

Northeastern, which led by as many as seven points in the third quarter, saw its offense falter down the stretch while Merrimack’s pressure defense and efficient scoring created an insurmountable wave. The Huskies entered the final period trailing by just six points, 51-45, but were outscored by 20 points in the quarter as the Warriors shot a blistering percentage from the field and capitalized on a slew of Northeastern turnovers.

The contest was characterized by a stark contrast in offensive execution and ball security. Merrimack’s offense hummed with an efficiency rating of 108.4 points per 100 possessions, significantly outpacing Northeastern’s mark of 89.6. The Warriors feasted on Huskies’ mistakes, converting 22 Northeastern turnovers into 27 points, while the Huskies managed only nine points off 13 Merrimack turnovers.

The disparity in ball movement was also profound. Merrimack dished out 14 assists, nearly triple Northeastern’s total of five. Defensively, the Warriors were equally disruptive, recording 14 steals compared to five for the visiting Huskies.

Despite the lopsided final score, Northeastern’s Yirsy Quéliz delivered a standout performance. The 5-foot-4 guard from Concepción de la Vega, Dominican Republic, poured in a game-high 22 points, showcasing her range by connecting on several three-pointers. She added seven rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes of action.

Merrimack’s victory was a product of a balanced and relentless attack. Mia Fiore, a 5-foot-10 guard from Narragansett, R.I., orchestrated the offense with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Her backcourt partner, Paloma Garcia of Corozal, Puerto Rico, was a catalyst with a game-high nine assists to go with seven points and four rebounds.

The Warriors controlled the interior, outscoring the Huskies 48-24 in the paint and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds. Madison Roman, a 6-foot forward from Fairfield, Conn., posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while also contributing three assists, three steals and a block.

Northeastern received a strong all-around effort from Taylor Holohan of Averill Park, N.Y. The 6-foot forward finished with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Teammate Morgan Matthews from Lawrenceville, N.J., added 13 points and five rebounds.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair, with Northeastern holding a narrow 33-32 lead at halftime. The Huskies extended their advantage in the third quarter, but could not withstand the Warriors’ fourth-quarter onslaught, which saw Merrimack shoot over 60 percent from the floor while forcing eight Northeastern turnovers.

With the loss, Northeastern falls to 1-3 on the young season. The Huskies will look to rebound quickly as they travel to face Providence on Tuesday.

Merrimack improves to 2-2 and will return to the Volpe Athletic Center court on Wednesday to host Bryant. The Warriors’ victory defied the pre-game statistical projections, which heavily favored them to win.