TOWSON, Md. ? A three-pointer by senior guard Alis Freeman with 1:38 to play in the game allowed the Towson basketball team to rally from a second-half deficit and defeat Duquesne 59-56. It was the second straight come from behind victory for the Tigers (4-0) and snapped a six-game win streak for the Dukes (6-1). It was also the Tigers first win in six tries against Duquesne.
Towson came out of the locker room at halftime trailing by ten points. The Tigers knocked down the first four points of the half to make it a 33-27 game with 17:49 to play. Duquesne responded with an 8-2 run to open up a 41-29 lead with 14:52 to go in the contest. A lay-up by sophomore guard Simona Petronyte ignited an 8-0 run for the home team over the next three minutes and made it a 41-37 deficit with 11:02 to play. Sophomore guard Omara Parker chipped in with four of the Tigers' eight during that stretch.
Duquesne's lead would fluctuate between six and four points over the next four minutes before a Parker trey at 7:05 brought the Tigers to within one at 47-46. The Dukes nailed a three of their own to go back up by four before the Tigers converted their next two buckets to tie the game at 50-50 with 5:46 to play. The two teams traded baskets and found themselves once again dead-locked, this time at 54-54 with 2:36 to play. Duquesne got its last basket of the game at 1:59 as Keri Pryor converted a lay-up. Towson would then get the three from Freeman and a pair of free throws from junior guard Shanae Baker-Brice to secure the victory.
The first half of the game had seen Duquesne jump out to an early advantage on Towson. Trailing 2-0, the Dukes went on a 17-6 run to open up a 17-8 lead with 12:47 to play in the half. Pryor had five points for the Dukes while Rachel Frederick converted six during the stretch. The Tigers responded with a 10-4 run of their own to make it a 21-18 game with 7:09 remaining in the half. Junior forward Katrina Wheeler had four of the Tigers' 10 points during that time. A lay-up by Kristi Little at 3:39 put the visitors back up seven at 27-20. After a Parker jumper cut it to five, the Dukes scored six of the final seven points in the half to take a 33-23 lead into the locker room.
Towson shot 42% from the floor and 63.6% from the free throw line in the contest. Wheeler posted her second straight “double-double” with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She would also add three blocked shots and a steal. Parker had a team-high 15 points in the contest, 11 of which came in the second half. Baker-Brice was the third Tiger in double figures as she had 10 points while adding six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Junior forward Kandace Davis finished with seven points and eight rebounds while sophomore forward Dovile Miliauskaite grabbed six boards. Freeman finished with seven points, four assists and two steals.
Duquesne shot 33% from the floor and 75% from the foul line in the contest. Little led all scorers with 18 points while adding six rebounds and six assists. Pryor had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Frederick finished with nine points and six rebounds.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, December 3 when they travel to Bucknell. Tip-time in Lewisburg, Pa. is set for 7 p.m.
