UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State University used a 16-11 run to close out the game and secure a 71-64 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Friday afternoon in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. The loss spoiled a career day for junior guard Dominique Johnson, who led the Tigers with 32 points.

Johnson's 32 points are tied for 11^th most in single-game history at Towson. It marked the second time in her career she scored 30 or more points in a game.

"I'm very pleased with my group," said Towson Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "We've got a young team (seven newcomers) and they came out in this first game ready to play. Our inexperience showed in the final four minutes. If I could go back and rewind and make a couple of adjustments I would. Hats off to Penn State, great win for them today. We did a good job using the clock early on but a couple of quick shots and transition baskets hurt us."

The Nittany Lions (1-0) needed that late run after a back-and-forth second half. Towson (0-1) came out of the half trailing by two, 31-29. The Tigers quickly rattled off a 12-5 run and took a 41-36 lead with 16:47 to play. Johnson had eight of the Tigers' 12 during that stretch. Johnson's third three-pointer of the half pushed the Tiger advantage to nine, 48-39 with 12:50 remaining in the game. Six unanswered points by Penn State cut the Tiger lead to three, 48-45 with 10:40 to play. Candice Agee had three points during that stretch. Johnson's fourth three-pointer of the half pushed the Towson lead back to seven, 53-46 with 9:34 to play. Seven quick points by Penn State tied the game at 53-53 with 8:34 showing on the clock.

Sierra Moore's jumper at 7:30 jump started the 16-11 run that proved to be the difference maker in the game. Redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen's layup at 5:08 tied the game at 57-57 but that was as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way. A Lindsay Spann lay-up with 40 seconds to play gave Penn State its largest lead of the half, 70-61. Moore hit one-of-two from the line with 32 seconds to play which made the final score, 71-64.

The first half saw the Tigers get off to a slow start as Penn State jumped out to a 16-6 lead with 12:33 to play in the half. Spann had five of the Nittany Lions' early points. Penn State continued to battle as Tori Waldner's lay-up at 6:02 gave the hosts a 25-9 lead. Johnson hit a jumper at 5:35 that started an 11-2 run by the Tigers. That scoring spurt allowed Towson to cut its deficit to seven, 27-20 with 2:53 to play in the half. Johnson had a pair of baskets while freshman guard Breonn Hughey nailed a three-pointer. Kaliyah Mitchell's jumper at 2:05 allowed Penn State to push its lead back to 11, 31-20. However, that was the last basket of the half for the Nittany Lions. Towson scored the final nine points of the half and went into the locker room trailing by just two, 31-29. Hughey capped the run with a deep three-pointer.

Towson shot 31.9% from the floor and 30% from three-point range in the game. The Tigers went 11-for-17 from the foul line. Penn State shot 45% from the floor and 25% from three-point range. The Nittany Lions went 14-for-24 from the foul line. Penn State won the rebounding battle 49-38.

Johnson added three steals, an assist and a rebound to go with her points. Hines-Allen contributed 12 points, six rebounds, a block and a steal. Hughey posted eight points, six rebounds and seven assists while playing all 40 minutes. Redshirt freshman forward Jordyn Smith led Towson on the boards with nine rebounds.

Spann led Penn State with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Moore added 12 points while Waldner had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Towson now moves into a consolation bracket for the Preseason WNIT that will be played Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22. The Tigers are guaranteed to play two more games in the tournament and will have a chance to play at home. More information should be released tomorrow at the conclusion of the first round games.