TOWSON, Md. - Playing in their final home game, the Tigers' five seniors accounted for 44 points in a 56-45 win over Delaware on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association action. Towson (14-14, 8-9 CAA) snapped a three-game losing streak as Katrina Wheeler grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds.
"I'm really happy for our seniors today, it's always an emotional day and they responded well for us today," said Coach Joe Mathews.
The Tigers jumped out to a 6-0 lead with 14:31 remaining in the first half. Towson's seniors accounted for the first six points of the game including a bucket by Ashlee Keown. Delaware responded with a 5-2 run to make it an 8-5 game with 9:44 to play in the half. The Tigers went back up 13-5 following a Jaleesa Dryver jumper at 8:34. Delaware used a 7-0 run to cut the Tiger lead to 13-12 with 4:41 remaining. Haliena Snowden hit a lay-up at 3:45 to jumpstart a 14-4 run. That run carried the Tigers to the break and allowed them to take a 27-16 lead at the half.
After a bucket by Kayla Miller to start the second half, Towson went on a 9-0 run. That run allowed the Tigers to take a 36-18 lead with 17:05 to play in the game. The Tigers got five points from Shanae Baker-Brice during that stretch and four from Wheeler. The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes with a pair of free throws from Miller at 10:56 making it a 41-28 game. The Tigers followed with a 6-0 spurt to take a 19-point advantage with 9:01 to play. It was the Tigers' largest lead of the game at 47-28. The Blue Hens went on a 12-0 run to cut their deficit to 47-40 with 4:42 to play. Jocelyn Bailey had six for the Blue Hens during that run. Snowden completed a three-point play at 4:22 to put the Tigers back up by ten, 50-40. Delaware would cut the Towson lead to seven, 52-45 following a Lauren Carra lay-up at 2:38. The Tigers would score the final four points of the game to clinch the 56-45 victory.
Wheeler posted her fourth "double-double" of the season as she added 10 points in addition to her career-high in rebounds. Snowden finished just shy of a "double-double" as she had a game-high 13 points and nine rebounds. Baker-Brice was the third Tiger in double figures with 12 and added five rebounds and five assists. Baker-Brice's points give her 1,766 for her career and moved her into a tie for eighth on the CAA's career scoring list (Pam Bryant, UR). Kandace Davis added seven points, five rebounds and tied her career-high with three assists.
Delaware, who was held to a season-low 30% from the floor and a season-low 18.2% from three-point range was without leading scorer Elena Delle Donne due to injury. The Blue Hens did get 11 points from Tesia Harris. Danielle Parker led the Hens on the boards with nine while Bailey had nine points.
Towson closes out the regular season on Wednesday, March 3 at Old Dominion. Game time in Norfolk is set for 7 p.m.
-- TIGERS --
