TOWSON, Md. - An 18-2 run to start the game helped lift Richmond to a 66-50 win over the Tigers on Wednesday evening in the Towson Center. Simona Petronyte led the Tigers (5-5) with 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds.

"I thought Richmond used its post game to its advantage in the first half to build that early lead," said Coach Joe Mathews. "We did some things right in the second half and I have to give credit to kids like Simona and Tanisha McTiller who refused to give up till the very end tonight."

Brittani Shells and Kristina Puthoff-King posted four points apiece to help the Spiders open their 16 point lead with 10:05 to play in the half. A trey from Krystal Parnell and a bucket from Petronyte made it a 20-9 game with 7:55 to play in the stanza. Richmond scored 14 of the final 20 points in the half to take a 34-15 lead at the break.

Richmond shot 60.9% from the floor in the first half to the Tigers' 21.9%. The two teams combined for 24 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of action.

The Spiders opened the second half on a 22-8 run and led 56-23 with 13:09 to play in the game. Crystal Goring had five points for Richmond during that stretch.  Genevieve Okoro's foul shot at 13:09 capped the run and gave Richmond its largest lead of the game. Petronyte drained a three-pointer at 12:32 to break up the Spider run. The two teams traded baskets with a Charmonique Watt lay-up at 9:35 making it a 57-30 game. The two teams continued to battle on both ends of the court as Richmond led 61-31 with 6:57 to play. McTiller hit a lay-up at 6:15 which jump started a 19-5 run by the Tigers to close the game. McTiller had five points during the final run while Petronyte chipped in with six. Richmond claimed a 66-50 win at the end of the game.

Richmond shot 44.4% from the floor in the second half and finished the game shooting 52% from the floor. Towson shot 53.8% from the floor in the second half and 36.2% for the game. Towson finished with 19 turnovers to the Spiders' 25.

Petronyte added two assists and three steals in addition to leading the team in points and rebounds. Parnell finished with nine points and two rebounds while Dovile Miliauskaite finished with six points and three rebounds. Miliauskaite's second rebound of the first half gave her 400 for her career. McTiller chipped in with eight points, two assists and three steals off the bench.

Shells led Richmond with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Abby Oliver was the second Spider in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds. Goring added a game-high nine boards with six points.

Towson returns to action on Wednesday, December 29 when it hosts Delaware State. That game is set for 7 p.m. in the Towson Center.

-- TOWSONTIGERS.COM --