WILMINGTON, N.C. – A 17-1 run to start the second half gave UNC Wilmington a lead it would not relinquish en route to a 71-63 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen led the Tigers with 21 points in the game.

Trailing 6-3 in the first half, Towson used a three-pointer from senior forward Camille Alberson to tie the game with 16:20 to play in the half. That triple started a 13-2 run by the visitors which gave them a 16-8 lead with 12:44 to go in the half. Alberson hit her second three-pointer of the game during that scoring spurt while Hines-Allen added four points. A UNCW bucket briefly halted the Tiger run at 12:04. However, the Tigers responded by scoring nine of the next 11 points in the game and took a 25-12 lead with 9:53 showing on the clock. That was the Tigers' largest lead of the game. UNCW used a 17-6 run to cut the Tiger lead to one, 31-30 with 2:57 left in the half. Shatia Cole had six points for the Seahawks during that scoring spurt. A jumper from junior guard Dominique Johnson halted the home team's run at 2:10 and pushed the Towson lead back to three, 33-30. The Tigers were a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final minute to help the visitors take a 37-30 lead at the half.

Towson (8-12, 4-4 CAA) shot 53.8% from the field in the first half while UNCW posted a 50% field goal percentage. The Tigers had five first-half three-pointers and were led by Hines-Allen and Alberson who had 10 points each.

Brie Mobley hit a jumper at 19:41 of the second half that started the decisive run by the Seahawks. Cole accounted for seven of the Seahawks' 17 points during that run while Mobley chipped in six. Towson scored eight of the next 12 points in the game and cut the UNCW lead to five, 51-46 with 10:31 to play in the game. Hines-Allen had six of the Tigers' eight during that stretch. However, Hines-Allen's bucket at 10:31 was the last point the Tigers scored until senior guard Markell Smith had a pair of free throws at 5:46. UNC Wilmington scored seven points during that scoreless stretch by the Tigers and led 58-46.

Cole hit a three-pointer at 4:24 which gave UNCW (8-11, 4-4 CAA) a 63-48 advantage, its largest of the game. Back-to-back triples from senior guard Ciara Webb were part of a 9-0 run that allowed Towson to cut the UNCW lead to six, 63-57 with 2:15 to play. That six-point margin was as close as the Tigers were able to get down the stretch as UNCW claimed the 71-63 victory.

UNCW shot 51.9% from the field in the second half and 51% for the game. The Seahawks were aided in the game by going 19-for-22 from the foul line. Towson shot 27.3% from the field in the second half and 39% for the game. Towson won the rebounding battle, 34-30.

Hines-Allen had 11 rebounds to go along with her 21 points for her team and CAA leading 10^th double-double of the year. Alberson had a season-high 10 points and eight rebounds while Webb had 10 points and three assists.

Cole led UNCW with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists while Mobley added 20 points.

Towson is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 29 when it travels to Delaware for a 7 p.m. game.

The 2015 CAA Women's Basketball Championship will be held March 12-15 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. Call 1-855-TU-TIGER for your tickets.