RICHMOND, Va. ? The Towson basketball team handed Richmond its first loss of the season with a 56-48 victory on Saturday night in the Robins Center. The Tigers (7-1) got 19 points from junior guard Shanae Baker-Brice who stretched her streak of scoring in double figures to eight games.
With Richmond (8-1) leading 2-0 early in the first half, Towson scored nine unanswered points to grab a 9-2 advantage in the game. Sophomore guard Simona Petronyte scored five during the stretch including a three-pointer while fellow sophomore guard Omara Parker scored the other four on a trey and a foul shot. A jumper by Baker-Brice at 15:28 put the Tigers on top 11-3, their largest lead of the half. The Spiders outscored the Tigers 7-1 over the next six minutes to make it a 12-10 game. A three-pointer by Johanna McKnight at 7:03 brought the hosts to within one at 14-13. Towson responded by scoring eight of the final 13 points in the half to take a 22-18 lead into the locker room. Junior forward Haliena Snowden and Baker-Brice each scored four for the Tigers during that stretch.
The 18 points scored by Richmond in the first half was the lowest point total allowed by the Tigers in the first half this season.
Towson came out of the locker room with a hot scoring hand as the Tigers scored seven of the first 11 in the half. Petronyte had her second trey of the game during that stretch and the Tigers led 29-22 with 18:02 to play. Richmond scored eight unanswered points during the next two minutes to take a 30-29 advantage with 16:02 to play. It was the Spiders first lead since 18:38 of the first stanza. After a Baker-Brice lay-up put the Tigers up by one, Richmond scored six straight points to take a 36-31 lead with 12:50 to play. A jumper by junior forward Kandace Davis cut the hosts' lead to three before Snowden hit back-to-back jumpers to put Towson back on top, 37-36 with 10 minutes to play.
A lay-up by Abby Oliver put the Spiders up 39-37 with 8:06 to play. The two teams traded baskets over the next couple of minutes with a free throw by Brittani Shells at 3:30, tying the score at 44-44. Davis hit 1-of-2 from the foul line at 3:08 to give Towson back the lead and the Tigers would not relinquish it the rest of the way. A lay-up by Davis at 1:04 gave Towson a 50-46 advantage. The Tigers would go 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute to help secure the 56-48 victory.
The Tigers were led by Baker-Brice in the contest. In addition to her 19 points she added six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Snowden was the other Tiger in double figures as she recorded 10 points and six rebounds. Junior forward Katrina Wheeler led all players with 11 rebounds and also contributed six points and two blocks. Davis had six points and nine rebounds while Parker struck for four points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
Shells and McKnight paced the Spiders with nine points apiece. McKnight would also add eight rebounds in the contest. Samantha Bilney finished with seven points, seven rebounds and four steals.
The Tigers will now take time off for finals and the holidays. Towson will return to action on Monday, December 29 when it takes on Miami of Ohio at the State Farm Classic hosted by Florida at 5 p.m.
