BOSTON (Interstat) — Cassidy Geddes scored 20 points and William & Mary used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Northeastern for a 63-50 victory in Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball on Friday night at Matthews Arena.

The Tribe (9-8, 3-3 CAA) held the Huskies to a season-low in points, forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. William & Mary also tallied 11 steals, led by the backcourt pressure of Geddes and Monet Dance.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded late in the second quarter, turning a narrow contest into a comfortable William & Mary lead. With the Tribe ahead 25-19 and just over four minutes remaining in the half, the defense ignited a decisive run. Geddes stole the ball from Kailee Beaudion-Foliaki, and though the ensuing possession didn’t yield points, the tone was set. On Northeastern’s next trip, another Huskies turnover led to an Alexa Mikeska three-pointer off a Geddes assist. Just 27 seconds later, Geddes stole the ball again, leading to a Sophia LeGoullon three-pointer that capped an 8-0 burst and extended the lead to 33-19. Northeastern never recovered, failing to get the deficit back to single digits in the second half.

Geddes, a 5-foot-7 guard from Hickory, North Carolina, filled the stat sheet, adding four assists and three steals in 35 minutes. She was instrumental in both the early offense and the game-breaking run. Kyah Smith provided 11 points, while Natalie Fox and Jana Sallman each added 10. Fox, a 6-foot-4 forward, also contributed nine rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot.

William & Mary’s defense was the story, limiting Northeastern (6-11, 2-4) to 39.6% shooting from the field and just 4-of-15 from three-point range. The Huskies also struggled at the free-throw line, making only 8 of 15 attempts. The Tribe’s offense, while not explosive, was efficient enough, shooting 42.6% from the floor and committing five fewer turnovers.

Northeastern was led by Yirsy Quéliz with 10 points and three assists. Justice Tramble added eight points, but the Huskies’ offense was disjointed throughout, managing only five total assists as a team.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for William & Mary and improved its record in true road games to 4-3 this season. The Tribe had dropped three of its last four conference games prior to Friday. Northeastern, coming off a road win at Hofstra, saw its hopes for a winning streak dashed by its inability to solve William & Mary’s defensive pressure.

William & Mary built its lead steadily, holding a 33-23 advantage at halftime after leading 15-12 following the first quarter. The Tribe maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the second half, with the lead ballooning to as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected William & Mary as a significant favorite with a 72.6% probability to win. The Tribe’s performance, particularly on defense, validated that projection.

William & Mary continues its road trip at Hofstra on Sunday. Northeastern will look to rebound on the same day when it travels to face Monmouth.