TOWSON, Md. - Simona Petronyte's three-pointer with five seconds remaining helped lift the Tigers to a 68-66 come from behind win over Loyola (Md.) on Thursday night. The Tigers (3-4) snapped a three-game losing streak as Haliena Snowden recorded her first career "double-double" with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"My hats are off to the team tonight," said Coach Joe Mathews. "We talked to the girls at the half about fighting through and getting aggressive and they did. We also remind them that it can't be just a one-person show and tonight we got those contributions from numerous people."
Loyola led 65-64 with :59 seconds remaining following a pair of Kaitlin Grant free throws. Shanae Baker-Brice hit one of two from the foul line to tie the score at 65-65. That set the stage for Petronyte's game-winning shot. Grant would make one of two from the line with two seconds remaining for the final margin of victory.
Petronyte's shot capped a strong second half by the Tigers. Towson came out of the locker room at the half and saw Grant make a lay-up to extend the visitors' advantage to 35-22 with 19:36 to play. Towson responded with a 9-0 run including four points from Snowden to make it a 35-31 game with 16:43 to play. Following a Loyola jumper, the Tigers would put together a 7-0 run to take their first lead, 38-37, since early in the first half. The two teams would then trade baskets over the next four minutes with a Snowden jumper putting Towson up 49-48 with 7:59 to go. The two teams would continue to trade buckets and found themselves tied at 55-55 with 4:57 to play. Towson would use a 9-3 run to take a 64-58 lead with 2:20 to play. Loyola would respond with a 7-0 run of its own to set the stage for the late game heroics.
The two teams battled through turnovers problems in the first half. A Charmonique Watt lay-up at 11:58 gave Towson a 12-11 edge but it was the last lead the Tigers would hold till 13:01 of the second half. Loyola would close the second half on a 22-10 run to take a 33-22 lead into the locker room. The two teams combined for 29 turnovers in the first half.
Snowden was one of three Tigers to score in double figures in the contest. She finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Baker-Brice scored at least 20 points for the sixth time in seven games this season as she posted 21 points, five assists and five steals. Kandace Davis had 10 points and nine boards while Katrina Wheeler came off the bench to score seven points and pull down 10 boards.
Miriam McKenzie finished with 19 points and six rebounds while Grant and Meredith Tolley each had 12 points.
The Tigers return to action on Monday, December 7 when they host Bucknell at 7 p.m.
-- TIGERS --
