By: Kate Harman
TowsonTigers.com 

TOWSON, Md. - In Lithuania they played for different cities. Then by chance they both moved to the same area in Virginia, helping their high school team win a state championship their senior year. Now Simona Petronyte and Dovile Miliauskaite are both vital members of the Towson women's basketball team, leading the Tigers to a 6-6 overall record heading into the heart of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) schedule.

Both seniors at Towson, Miliauskaite and Petronyte knew people who went to the United States for high school from Lithuania and decided they too wanted to try something different. They were recruited by different college coaches who hoped the girls would eventually play basketball for their respective universities, and moved to the United States.

But first Miliauskaite and Petronyte would have to finish their senior year of high school, and coincidently the girls ended up at the same high school, Holy Cross Regional, located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Another Lithuanian native also happened to be on the high school's roster and together, the three, all starters, found a lot of success.

"I was happy because I didn't know the English language and was so far from home," Miliauskaite said.  "It was nice to have someone I knew and could talk in my native language. "

"The culture was different. We had a tough time. We had to change our lives because people around here aren't going to change their lives for us," she added.

Besides learning English and acclimating to American culture, Miliauskaite and Petronyte also had to change the way they played basketball. The change was especially prominent for Miliauskaite, who had played the three-guard in Lithuania but became a post player, and tallest player on the roster in the United States.

"The basketball is totally different. The style is different," Petronyte said. "When I first came to the U.S. it was hard to get used to American rules. Offense was different, just the little things."

"In America they play a more physical game. I never lifted before I came here," Miliauskaite added.

Even with the adjustments on the basketball court, Miliauskaite and Petronyte flourished, both honored as part of the first team All-State in high school.

"Basketball was just relief from a long day of school," Miliauskaite said. "It was fun, and I loved every minute on the floor."

When it came time to decide what college to attend, they decided it would be best to go somewhere together. They went on an official visit to Towson and when the school offered them both an opportunity to play, they accepted.

"I really liked Towson, the environment, the coaches. It was a great opportunity," Petronyte said.

This season Miliauskaite has averaged 8.8 points a game in 12 games, 10 of which she started. In those 12 games she has averaged just over 23 minutes played. Petronyte averages 9.8 points a game in just eight games, due to a foot injury that left her inactive for a couple games earlier in the month. She averages about 26 minutes a game. They both have led their team in scoring at least once this season, with Petronyte amassing a season high of 23 points and Miliauskaite netting 18 points.

"We have each other. We talk a lot. It's easier because we have each other," Petronyte said. "We understand each other. I have her back, she has mine. It's easier to get through tough times."

"She knows when I catch a ball what I'm going to do. We know each other's game very well," Miliauskaite agreed.

In the summer, both Miliauskaite and Petronyte have gone back to Lithuania to play for different age groups of the Lithuanian junior national team. Miliauskaite hopes to return to Lithuania once she graduates in May and play in Europe. For this though, she will have to return to playing the three-guard, something that will require her to expand her game and work on dribbling, instead of just posting up.

"I've been playing basketball since I was 7, 8 years old. It's been a part of my whole life," Miliauskaite said. "I can't see myself living without basketball."

Petronyte, however, isn't sure if she wants to continue playing and join a European league. Instead, she may stay in the area and attend graduate school.

For now though, both have a similar goal: advancing the Tigers basketball program.

"I wish it [this season] would be better. We lost to two or three teams we shouldn't have. Every day we are getting better. We are getting better," Miliauskaite said.

"We are a totally different team. Every single person can be a leader each night. This team has the potential to have 3, 4 people score in double digits each night. Opponents don't know who to focus on because we have so many people who can open up and lead the team that night."

The Tigers will face off against CAA opponent Hofstra in their second conference game of the season on Thursday, January 6, when they visit the Pride for a 7 p.m. game.

"It's totally a new team and we getting used to each other," Petronyte said. "We are young still but we are learning. We will see how it goes."

-- TOWSONTIGERS.COM --