TOWSON, Md. ? Shanae Baker-Brice scored a game-high 23 points including 14 in the second half to lead the Tigers to a 71-55 victory over Delaware on Sunday afternoon in the Towson Center. The Tigers (16-9, 8-7 CAA) have won three straight as Baker-Brice has now scored 20+ points in two straight games.
“I was happy with our performance tonight and the intensity that the girls brought to the court,” said Coach Joe Mathews.
Towson opened the game on a 14-4 run as Baker-Brice and Kandace Davis scored four points apiece during the stretch. A jumper by Haliena Snowden at 10:14 put the home team up 18-8 in the game. Vanessa Kabongo hit a jumper at 9:40 to pull Delaware to within eight at 18-10. Towson responded by scoring seven unanswered points to take a 25-10 lead with 6:51 to play in the half, its largest lead of the half. Delaware would outscore the Tigers 13-5 over the next several minutes to make it a 30-23 game with 3:15 to play. Tesia Harris contributed seven of the Blue Hens' 13 during that stretch. The Tigers scored the final seven points of the half to take a 37-23 lead into the locker room at the break.
Towson scored 18 of the first 25 points in the second half to extend its lead to 55-30 with 14:16 to play. Snowden knocked down seven during that run for the Tigers. Baker-Brice completed a three-point play at 12:56 to make it a 59-32 game. The two teams would then trade buckets with a Kabongo jumper at 10:16 making it a 61-39 contest. Towson would score the next eight points capped by Baker-Brice's lay-up to take a 69-39 advantage with 7:59 to play in the game. The two teams traded baskets with Simona Petronyte connecting on two of three foul shots at 5:18 to put Towson ahead 71-44 in the game. Those points would be the last scored by the Tigers in the game as Delaware went on an 11-0 run to close the game and make it a 71-55 final.
Baker-Brice finished with 23 points and six assists in the contest to lead the Tigers. It was Baker-Brice's second straight 20+ point contest and seventh of the season. Snowden finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. Katrina Wheeler had her 10th “double-double” of the season as she contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jessica Haywood matched her career-high in rebounds as she finished with eight including six offensive boards.
Delaware was led by Harris, who collected a game-high 27 points while Ethlynne Thomas collected 12 rebounds. Eva Riddick was the other Blue Hen in double figures finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Tigers return to action on Thursday, February 26 at Old Dominion for a 7 p.m. game. The Lady Monarchs currently sit just one game in front of the Tigers' in the CAA standings.
