TOWSON, Md. - James Madison got a game-high 28 points from Dawn Evans en route to a 56-45 victory over the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. Towson (7-13, 1-8 CAA) got 16 points and four assists from Krystal Parnell in the loss.

"I'm proud of our kids and the intensity and unity they showed today," said Coach Joe Mathews. "When it came down to it in the end, they were able to convert the shots they needed to get the victory but I thought we played well."

Trailing by seven coming out of the half, the Tigers quickly cut their deficit to four as Parnell converted a three-point play. James Madison would respond with a 17-8 run to take a 40-27 lead with 11:58 to play in the game. That run was jump started by an Evans' bucket and capped by a Tarik Hislop jumper. Evans had six for the Dukes during that stretch. The Tigers responded with an 8-0 run of their own to make it a 40-35 game with 7:44 to play. Parnell and Jessica Haywood tallied three points apiece during that stretch. The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes as a pair of free throws by Evans at 6:12 pushed the visitors' lead back to six, 44-38. Back-to-back buckets by Parnell and Dovile Miliauskaite pulled the Tigers to within two, 44-42 with 3:19 to play. It was the closest the Tigers had been in the second half and would get.

James Madison would score 12 of the final 15 points to hold off the Tigers and seal the victory. Lauren Jimenez had six points for the Dukes during that late run. James Madison shot 64.7% from the floor in the second stanza to the Tigers' 33.3%.

James Madison had opened the game on an 8-0 run behind four points apiece from Evans and Jimenez. Parnell broke up the Dukes' run with a jumper at 15:47. James Madison would extend its lead to 10-4 with 14:59 remaining in the first half. The Tigers went on a 5-0 spurt and found themselves trailing by one, 10-9 with 8:34 to play. James Madison responded with a 5-0 run of its own to take a 15-9 lead with 6:50 to go in the half. A basket by Jaleesa Dryver at 3:10 made it a 15-13 game. James Madison would score eight straight points and held a 23-13 lead with 1:13 to play in the half. Deree Fooks hit a triple with 47 seconds remaining to send the Tigers into the half trailing 23-16.

James Madison finished the game shooting 52.5% from the floor while the Tigers shot 27.8%. James Madison held a slight edge on the boards at 38-31 while the Tigers forced 22 turnovers.

Parnell led the Tigers with 16 points, four assists, one rebound and one block. Sheree Ledbetter added nine points and eight rebounds for the Tigers. Miliauskaite contributed four points and five rebounds while blocking a career-high five shots in the game. Miliauskaite now has 57 career blocks which ranks tenth in school history.

Evans led all scorers with 28 points while adding three rebounds and three assists. Jimenez finished just shy of a "double-double" with 16 points and nine rebounds for the Dukes.

Towson returns to action on Thursday, February 3 when the Tigers travel to Drexel for a 7 p.m. game. That contest will be shown on the Comcast Network.

-- TOWSONTIGERS.COM --