WILMINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — In a frantic Colonial Athletic Association opener defined by a staggering fourth-quarter collapse, UNC Wilmington survived a monumental scoring drought and a furious Northeastern rally to escape with a 69-67 victory in women’s basketball on Friday night at Trask Coliseum.

The Seahawks, who led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter and entered the final period with a 61-56 advantage, managed just eight points in the fourth quarter. They went scoreless for a stretch of more than six minutes, allowing the Huskies to claw back from a 65-56 deficit to tie the game at 65 with 4:47 remaining.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute with the score knotted at 67. After a Torin Rogers turnover, Northeastern had a chance to take the lead but Camryn Collins missed a 3-pointer with 58 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, UNC Wilmington’s Rori Cox secured an offensive rebound off a Kylah Silver miss and put it back for a layup, giving the Seahawks a 69-67 lead with 1:04 on the clock.

Northeastern had two opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final minute. Justice Tramble missed a close-range shot in transition, and after a defensive stop, the Huskies called a full timeout with 16 seconds left to set up a final play. The inbounds pass went to Yirsy Quéliz, whose contested jump shot from the wing missed as time expired, sealing the Seahawks’ narrow win.

The game was a tale of two halves, and particularly two quarters, for UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks built their lead with a high-octane offensive display through three periods, shooting efficiently and forcing 22 Northeastern turnovers, which they converted into 28 points. They scored 23 points in the first quarter and 21 in the third, showcasing a balanced attack.

Conversely, the fourth quarter was a struggle for survival. UNC Wilmington shot just 3-of-12 from the floor in the final period and committed six turnovers, repeatedly stifling their own momentum and opening the door for the Huskies.

Northeastern’s comeback was fueled by defensive pressure and key contributions from its bench. The Huskies outscored UNC Wilmington 15-8 in the fourth, with Quéliz scoring five of her 11 points in the final frame. A 3-pointer by Nariyah Simmons with 3:19 left capped a 9-0 run and tied the game at 65.

Rori Cox led all scorers for UNC Wilmington with 18 points, adding four assists and four steals in 35 minutes, though she also committed eight turnovers. Paige Smith provided a crucial spark off the bench with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting in just 17 minutes. Kylah Silver added 12 points and two steals, while Torin Rogers filled the stat sheet with 12 points, two assists and two blocks.

For Northeastern, Justice Tramble shouldered the scoring load with 18 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Holohan contributed 12 points and three blocks, and Yirsy Quéliz finished with 11 points, four assists and four steals. The Huskies won the rebounding battle 45-35, including 18 offensive boards, but were ultimately undone by their turnover count.

With the win, UNC Wilmington improves to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in CAA play. Northeastern falls to 4-7 and 0-1 in the conference. The Seahawks will look to build on the win when they host Hofstra on Sunday. Northeastern continues its road trip at the College of Charleston on Sunday.