HARRISONBURG, Va. – Precious Hall hit a pair of free throws with 17 seconds to play to lift James Madison University to a 67-66 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in both teams' Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener. Redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen led the Tigers with a career-high 31 points and 10 rebounds in the heartbreaking loss.

"I really loved the fight in my young women," said Towson Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "We are a young team and I'm asking people to step up and play tough defense, to buy into the system and to each other. Today is just the beginning for us! Our defense was key tonight as we held Hall down. Hines-Allen was focused today and had the hot hand and I'm very happy with her. Dominque Johnson controlled the tempo for us today and I'm very happy with her."

The Tigers came out firing as senior guard Ciara Webb's put-back bucket at 16:10 gave the visitors a 9-2 lead. Towson pushed the lead to 15-2 on Webb's bucket at 13:52. The Tiger lead fluctuated between six and 12 points over the next several minutes as both teams battled hard up and down the court. Destiny Jones' lay-up at 7:16 made it a 23-17 game. A three-point play from Hines-Allen at 6:50 pushed the Tiger lead back to nine, 26-17. A three-pointer from Johnson at 5:07 gave Towson a 29-20 advantage. A 5-0 run by James Madison cut the Towson lead to four, 29-25 with 2:48 left in the half. Towson ended the half on a 9-5 run and took a 38-30 lead at the half. Senior forward Camille Alberson tallied five points during that run while Hines-Allen had the other four.

Towson shot an impressive 54.8% from the field in the first half and made three three-pointers. James Madison posted a 40.7% field goal percentage and made two three-pointers. The Dukes held a 15-14 edge in the rebounding battle. Hines-Allen led all scorers with 17 points in the first 20 minutes of play.

James Madison (10-2, 1-0 CAA) opened the second half on a 20-4 run and took a 50-42 lead with 8:59 to play in the game. Lauren Okafor led the Dukes with eight points during that stretch. A three-point play from Hines-Allen halted the James Madison run and made it a 50-45 game. The two teams continued to battle as a three-point play from Johnson made it a 53-50 game with 7:59 left to play. A 6-2 run put the home team up 59-52 with 5:51 remaining in the game. Seven straight points by the Tigers (4-9, 0-1 CAA) tied the game at 59-59 with 4:24 left on the clock. Hines-Allen had five of the Tigers' seven during that stretch.

A pair of free throws from Okafor put James Madison ahead by two with 4:05 left in the game. Four straight points from Hines-Allen put the Tigers back on top 63-61 with 3:17 to go. The two teams traded points before a bucket from Angela Mickens gave James Madison a 65-64 lead with 37 seconds left in the game. Hines-Allen converted a pair of free throws with 25 seconds to go which put the Tigers up 66-65. However a foul by the Tigers sent Hall to the line with 17 seconds left on the clock and she made both which put the home team up 67-66. A last second shot by the Tigers fell short and James Madison claimed the 67-66 victory.

Towson shot 34.8% in the second half and 46.3% for the game. James Madison shot 36.8% in the second half and 38.5% for the game. The Dukes held a 42-33 lead in the rebounding battle.

Hines-Allen's 31 points and 10 rebounds were good for her team-leading sixth double-double of the year. Johnson tallied 15 points, six assists and three rebounds for Towson. Webb had seven points and eight rebounds.

Okafor led James Madison with 14 points and eight rebounds while Hall had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Towson is back in action when it hosts William & Mary on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. in SECU Arena.