TOWSON, Md. – Coppin State University scored 33 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and claim an 81-69 victory over the Towson University women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in the Tigers' home opener. Towson was led by 18 points from senior guard Dominique Johnson.

THE BASICS
Coppin State 81, Towson 69
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams struggled to shoot the ball in the first quarter as Coppin State (1-3) posted a 28.6% field goal percentage. Towson shot just 13.3% from the field in the first 10 minutes but made 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. Towson opened the quarter on a 6-0 run as a pair of steals led to lay-ups from freshman guard Sianni Martin. The two teams traded points as a pair of free throws from Tanaysa Henderson gave Coppin State a 9-8 lead with 4:36 to go in the quarter. A pair of free throws from junior forward Brianna Bush gave Towson a 10-9 edge with 4:04 left on the clock. Towson held a 13-12 advantage as the first quarter came to a close.
• Coppin State opened up the second quarter on a 10-4 run and took a 22-17 lead with 4:40 showing on the clock. Keema Samuels scored four points during the run for the Eagles. Johnson drained a three-pointer at 4:24 that started an 11-4 run which gave Towson a 28-26 advantage with 2:16 left in the quarter. Johnson hit two three-pointers in the run. Coppin State tied the game at 28-28 before Towson scored five of the final six points to take a 33-29 lead at the half.
• Towson shot 27% from the field in the first half but hit 9-of-12 from the foul line. Coppin State shot 31.3% from the field and 40% from the charity stripe. The Eagles held a 30-27 edge in the rebounding battled while Johnson led all players with 10 points.
• A lay-up from redshirt sophomore Jordyn Smith extended the Towson (0-3) lead to 35-29 to start the third quarter. Coppin State cut the Towson lead to one before back-to-back baskets from Martin and Smith pushed the lead to 39-34 with 8:06 to go in the quarter. A 6-1 run from Coppin State made it a 40-40 game with 6:19 showing on the clock. The two teams traded baskets before an 8-0 run gave Towson a 52-44 advantage with 1:58 to go in the quarter. Sophomore guard Breonn Hughey was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe during that run. Jordan Swails scored four of the final six points in the quarter for Coppin State. Towson took a 54-48 lead at the end of the quarter.
• Junior guard Raven Bankston scored four of the first six points in the fourth quarter as Towson held a 58-50 lead with 9:07 to play. Coppin State used a 27-5 run to turn an eight point deficit into a 14-point lead, 77-63 with 1:11 to play. Omaah Tayong scored 14 of the Eagles' 27 points during that run. The two teams traded foul shots before a lay-up from Martin made the final score, 81-69.

QUOTABLE

• "I think we're learning some tough lessons right now and we may need to go back to the drawing board to figure some things out," said Towson head coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "Once this team figures out how to get it on the defensive end, I think we'll be okay. We gave them some pretty easy baskets in the lane."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Johnson led the Tigers with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes of work. Johnson needs 21 more points to become the 16th player in program history with 1,000 career points.
• Bankston added 15 points while Martin had 13 points.
• Sophomore center Daijha Thomas had a career and game-high 12 rebounds while adding three points.
• The Tigers suffered their first loss to Coppin State since 2009-10. The Tigers start the season 0-3 for the first time since 2002-03.

The Tigers are back in action when they play UMBC on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. It is the Tigers' STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) game. Towson will play host to approximately 2,000 elementary and middle school children from the Baltimore area.
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