BALTIMORE, Md. - Deree Fooks exploded for a career-high 24 points to lead the Tigers past Loyola, 59-51 on Monday evening. The Tigers (2-2) shot 70.8% from the foul line to help secure the victory.

"I think this was a solid win for tonight," said Coach Joe Mathews. "This was a very good team we played and I thought Deree gave us a big lift tonight."

Loyola jumped out to an 11-5 lead with 13:35 to play in the first half. Miriam McKenzie had seven of the Greyhounds' first 11 points. Loyola extended its lead to 15-7 with 11:25 on the clock behind a lay-up from Nneka Offodile. The Tigers pulled to within 15-10 with 7:35 to play in the half as Sheree Ledbetter hit one of two from the line. The Greyhounds would push their lead back to 17-10 with 6:43 to play as McKenzie hit a pair of free throws.

Krystal Parnell drained a three-pointer with 6:27 to go to jump start a 13-3 run by the visitors to close the half. That run allowed Towson to turn a seven point deficit into a three point advantage at the break, 23-20. Fooks scored eight of the 13 points recorded by the Tigers during that run. It marked the first time this season, Towson has held a lead at the half.

Loyola sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a pair of Towson lay-ups to start the second half. Alyssa Sutherland's trey at 18:01 made it a 27-26 game in favor of the visitors. Fooks hit a lay-up at 16:45 to jump start a 10-2 run by the Tigers. The run was capped by a Victoria Naylor jumper at 13:01 and gave the Tigers a 37-28 advantage. Loyola made it a 39-34 game with 9:21 to play behind a jumper from Katie Sheahin. Towson pushed its lead back to 43-34with 9:03 to go as Fooks nailed a three-pointer.

An Erica DiClemente trey at 6:11 pulled the Greyhounds to within four at 45-41 but that was as close as Loyola would get the rest of the way. The two teams traded baskets as Towson held a 48-43 lead with 1:47 to play. Towson went 11-of-13 from the line in the last 1:30 to seal the 59-51 victory. Parnell was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe during that stretch while Fooks went 5-of-6 from the line.

Fooks finished with three rebounds, two assists and one steal in addition to her 24 tallies. Parnell recorded a season-high 11 points with four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Dovile Miliauskaite contributed a season-high 13 rebounds and three points. Ledbetter added nine points and six rebounds for the Tigers.

McKenzie led the Greyhounds with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Sheahin tallied 10 points and six boards.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, November 27 when they visit Canisius for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

-- TIGERS --