LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Towson University women's basketball team tied the school record for three-pointers in a single-game with 12 but it was not enough as Rider University claimed a 78-72 win in the season opener for both schools. Senior guard Dominique Johnson connected on seven three-pointers and led the Tigers (0-1) with 22 points.

THE BASICS
Rider 78, Towson 72
Alumni Gym, Lawrenceville, N.J.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior guard Raven Bankston connected on a three-pointer with 6:22 to play in the first quarter which helped the Tigers open up an 11-6 lead. Freshman guard Sianni Martin made a lay-up with 5:15 showing on the clock as Towson took a 13-5 advantage. A 7-3 run pulled Rider to within four, 16-12 with 3:24 left in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets before back-to-back three pointers from Johnson and Raven Bankston gave Towson a 24-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• Towson shot a strong 60% from the field in the first 10 minutes and made four three-pointers in the frame. Bankston had eight points while Johnson and Martin each scored six points. Rider shot 31.3% from the field in the first quarter.
• A three-pointer from Johnson gave Towson a 27-18 lead with 7:42 to go in the second quarter. Rider (1-0) cut the Towson lead to four, 29-25 with 6:05 left in the quarter. A triple from Martin and a pair of free throws from Bankston pushed the Tiger lead to 34-25 with 4:20 showing on the clock. Rider closed the second quarter on a 9-2 run which made it a 36-35 game at the half in favor of the visitors. Robin Perkins had four of the Broncs' nine points during that stretch.
• Julia Duggan led Rider with six points in the quarter while Bankston had four points for the Tigers.
• At the half, Bankston led all scorers with 12 points while sophomore center Daijha Thomas had four rebounds.
• Towson scored the first four points of the third quarter and held a 40-35 lead with 8:27 to go in the quarter. An 8-0 run gave Rider a 43-40 lead with 6:07 to go in the quarter. Yeliz Dogan had a pair of baskets during the run. Johnson converted a four-point play at 5:52 which put the Tigers back on top, 44-43. However, that was the last lead the Tigers held in the game. Rider closed the third quarter on a 14-8 run and took a 57-52 lead. Dogan had four points during that run.
• Towson shot just 35.3% from the field in the quarter while Rider shot 56.3% from the field. Johnson led the Tigers with seven points in the quarter while Dogan had eight points.
• Rider opened the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run and took a 69-56 lead with 5:47 to play. That was the Broncs' largest lead of the game as Kamila Hoskova had five points during that stretch. A three-pointer from Johnson cut the Tigers' deficit to eight, 69-61 with 4:52 showing on the clock. The two teams continued to battle as freshman guard AJ Timbers made one-of-two from the foul line with 1:13 to play that cut the lead to six, 72-66. Duggan pushed the Rider lead back to 10, 76-66 with 20 seconds to play with a made foul shot. A three-pointer from Timbers with one second left on the clock made the final score 78-72 in favor of the home team.
• Towson shot 38.9% from the field in the quarter while Rider posted a 42.9% field goal percentage. Johnson led the Tigers with six points in the quarter while Hoskova had seven in the quarter for Rider.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson tied the school record with 12 three-pointers made, that tied the record set last year against Northeastern. Johnson led the way with seven three-pointers in the game while three other Tigers made at least one.
• Johnson's seven three-pointers were one shy of her school record for three-pointers in a single-game (8).
• Martin finished with 18 points, five assists and four steals in her collegiate debut.
• Thomas pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds in the game.
• Raven Bankston was the third Tiger in double figures with 14 points.
• Perkins led Rider with 18 points and six rebounds.

The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 17 as they travel to George Mason for a 7 p.m. game.