BOSTON, Mass. ? Shanae Baker-Brice scored eight of her game-high 18 points in overtime to lead the Tigers to a 62-58 win over Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers (14-9, 6-7 CAA) snapped a two-game losing streak behind a combined 33 points from Baker-Brice and Katrina Wheeler.
"I am very proud of our kids and how they hung in there till the very end tonight," said Coach Joe Mathews. "It was nice to have a last second shot go our way, I was really happy with how we shot from the foul line and getting Shanae and Katrina back in the in line-up was very beneficial."
Tied at 50-50, the Tigers and Huskies headed to an extra five minutes. The two teams traded baskets early in the extra session. Kendra Walton hit a three-pointer with 2:41 remaining to put the home team up 56-54. Towson would outscore Northeastern 8-2 over the final 2:30 of overtime to clinch the victory. Baker-Brice had six of the eight during that stretch.
Towson had forced overtime after trailing by ten with just over nine minutes to play in the second half. Jasmine Crew's jumper had put the home team up 46-36 with 9:06 to play. The two teams would then trade baskets and Northeastern led 48-38 with 7:43 to go. Meredith Kennedy came off the bench and drained a three-pointer to ignite a 12-2 run that allowed Towson to tie the score at 50-50 and force the extra stanza. Towson was 7-for-8 from the foul line in the final 7:30 as Kandace Davis was 4-for-4 to help the Tigers.
The Tigers needed that late run after Northeastern had used a hot shooting hand to take the lead in the game. Towson had pushed its lead to 28-24 with 19:31 to play on Wheeler's jumper. Northeastern then went on a 13-2 run to turn the four-point deficit into a seven point advantage. Tiffany Crews had four for the Huskies during that stretch. The two teams would then trade baskets before Northeastern pushed its advantage to 10 with nine minutes remaining and set the stage for the Tigers late run.
Northeastern had started the game on an 8-2 run and would extend its lead to 12-6 with 11:15 to play in the first half. Towson would close the first half on a 20-12 run to take a 26-24 advantage into the locker room.
Baker-Brice posted a game-high 18 points to go along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Wheeler had 15 points, three rebounds and three blocked shots. Krystin Fields had six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals off the bench for the Tigers. Alis Freeman would post four points and five assists.
Northeastern was led by Kim Carr who had 16 points and eight rebounds while Crew had 14 points. Kendra Walton was the third Huskies in double figures as she posted 12 points.
The Tigers return to action on Thursday, February 19 when George Mason visits the Towson Center. Tip time in Towson is set for 7 p.m.
