NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Merrimack Warriors erupted for 32 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a persistent Northeastern challenge 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, was a tale of two halves, with the visiting Huskies holding a narrow 33-31 lead at halftime and maintaining a slight edge for much of the contest. Northeastern led by as many as seven points in the third quarter and entered the final period trailing by just a single point, 51-50.

However, the Warriors’ offense exploded in the final frame. Merrimack’s ball movement and defensive pressure proved decisive, as they outscored the Huskies 32-12 over the last ten minutes to turn a tight game into a convincing win.

Northeastern was led by a standout performance from sophomore guard Yirsy Quéliz, who poured in a game-high 22 points. The 5-foot-4 guard from Concepción de la Vega, Dominican Republic, also added seven rebounds and three assists. Morgan Matthews added 13 points for the Huskies, while Taylor Holohan contributed nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Merrimack’s victory was fueled by a balanced and efficient offensive attack. Mia Fiore and Molly Manion each scored 14 points, with Fiore adding eight rebounds and five assists. Madison Roman recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Joi Williams came off the bench to score 13 points. Paloma Garcia directed the offense masterfully, dishing out nine assists to go with seven points and four rebounds.

The statistical sheet underscored the Warriors’ dominant finish. Merrimack shot 46.4 percent from the floor, while Northeastern finished at 46.9 percent. The difference came in ball security and points off mistakes; the Warriors forced 22 Northeastern turnovers, converting them into 27 points, while the Huskies managed only nine points off 13 Merrimack turnovers.

Merrimack also controlled the interior, outscoring Northeastern 48-24 in the paint and holding a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. The Warriors’ ball movement was superior, tallying 14 assists to Northeastern’s five, and they also recorded 14 steals.

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

Merrimack improves to 2-2 overall. The Warriors return to action Wednesday to host Bryant.