PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Drexel Dragons to a 72-61 victory over the Northeastern Huskies in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game Friday night at Daskalakis Athletic Center.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 776, was a tale of two halves, with the decisive swing occurring after intermission. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 31, having mirrored each other nearly perfectly through the first 20 minutes. Northeastern held an 18-13 lead after the first quarter, but Drexel responded with its own 13-point second quarter to draw even.

The equilibrium shattered completely in the third period. Drexel’s offense, which had been efficient but not explosive in the first half, erupted for 25 points. The Dragons’ defense simultaneously clamped down, limiting Northeastern to just 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the floor while forcing six Huskies turnovers. The quarter featured a 15-4 Drexel run that transformed a narrow two-point game into a commanding 13-point advantage. The Dragons shot 9 of 16 from the field in the frame and connected on 3 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc.

Laine McGurk, a sophomore guard from West Chester, Pennsylvania, was the catalyst for Drexel’s breakout. She scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the third quarter, including a critical 3-pointer that pushed the lead to double digits. McGurk played 39 minutes and added two assists. Her backcourt mate, Grace O’Neill, directed the offense with precision, dishing out six assists against just one turnover in 35 minutes.

Northeastern, which fell to 7-19 overall and 4-11 in the CAA, never recovered from the third-quarter onslaught. The Huskies mounted a challenge in the fourth, cutting a 16-point deficit down to nine on multiple occasions, but could not string together enough stops to seriously threaten the Dragons’ lead. Camryn Collins led Northeastern with 15 points, while Morgan Matthews added 12 and Justice Tramble finished with 13.

Drexel, which improved to 18-8 overall and 12-3 in conference play, showcased a balanced and efficient attack. Beyond McGurk’s 26, Amaris Baker contributed 12 points, three assists and a block. The Dragons’ bench, led by Bria Watkins’ nine points and three assists, outscored Northeastern’s reserves 20-11.

A key disparity in the game came in ball security and second-chance opportunities. Drexel committed only seven turnovers, half of Northeastern’s 14, leading to a 15-4 advantage in points off turnovers. The Dragons also dominated the offensive glass, securing 12 offensive rebounds to Northeastern’s four, which resulted in a 15-2 edge in second-chance points. Drexel’s discipline extended to the free-throw line, where they made 13 of 15 attempts. Northeastern attempted just 11 free throws, making seven.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Drexel, which defeated Northeastern 65-56 in Boston on Feb. 1. The Dragons entered the game as overwhelming favorites according to advanced metrics, with a projected win probability exceeding 95 percent, and their performance after halftime validated that expectation.

Northeastern, which has lost three of its last four games, will return home to face Hampton on Sunday. Drexel, solidifying its position near the top of the CAA standings, will host North Carolina A&T on Sunday before closing its regular season with road games at Hofstra and Towson next week.