TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team took a 43-40 lead with 9:24 to play but could not hold onto the lead as Drexel University claimed a 66-52 win on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. The Tigers were led by redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen and senior guard Ciara Webb who had double-double performances.

"It was an up and down game," said Towson assistant coach Brian Johnson. "We surrendered too many points off turnovers in this game and we need to play better defense."

The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the Tigers and Dragons (15-8, 9-4 CAA) battled through three ties and five lead changes. The Tigers jumped out to a 7-3 lead on a lay-up from senior forward Camille Alberson at 17:09. An 8-0 run highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Alexis Smith put Drexel ahead 11-7 with 13:05 to go in the stanza. Towson scored nine of the next 11 points and took a 16-13 lead with 10:02 showing on the clock. Junior guard Dominique Johnson had five of the Tigers' nine during that stretch. The two teams continued to battle as four straight points from Hines-Allen put Towson on top 20-17 with 7:15 left in the half. However, Hines-Allen's jumper was the last of the half for the Tigers. Drexel closed the half on a 10-0 run and took a 27-20 lead at the break.

Drexel shot 36.7% from the field in the first half while the Tigers posted a 28.6 field goal percentage. The Dragons hit five three-pointers while the Tigers were 6-for-7 from the foul line. Towson (10-16, 6-8 CAA) held a 20-13 advantage in the rebounding battle. Hines-Allen led all players with 10 first half points.

Towson opened the second half on a 23-13 run which allowed the Tigers to take the 43-40 lead with 9:24 to play. Webb had eight points for the Tigers during that stretch while Hines-Allen had six points.

Johnson hit her second triple of the game and 144^th of her career during that run as well. That moved her past Jill McGowan and into sole possession of second place on the career three-pointers list at Towson.

However, Rachel Pearson hit a three-pointer at 9:10 which tied the game and started a 7-0 run which gave Drexel a lead it would not relinquish. The two teams went back-and-forth as Carrie Alexander hit a pair of free throws at 4:12 which gave the Dragons a 53-44 lead. Back-to-back buckets from Webb and Hines-Allen pulled the Tigers to within five, 53-48 with 3:06 to play. That was as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way. Drexel went 11-for-13 from the foul line in the final three minutes to seal the 66-52 victory.

Drexel shot 40.9% from the field in the second half and 38.5% for the game. The Dragons hit nine three-pointers in the game and were 17-for-19 from the foul line, all of which came in the second half. Towson shot 28.9% from the field in the second half and 28.8% for the game. Towson won the rebounding battle 45-30.

Hines-Allen led all scorers with 23 points and 12 rebounds as she posted her team and CAA leading 12^th double-double of the year. Webb finished with 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. Freshman guard Breonn Hughey dished out a game-high 10 assists.

Smith led Drexel with 19 points while Pearson added 15 points.

Towson is back in action when it travels to Hofstra on Thursday, Feb. 19 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.