TOWSON, Md. – Senior guard Dominique Johnson's three-pointer with two seconds to play didn't fall and UNCW claimed a 52-49 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. Johnson and junior guard Raven Bankston tied for the team lead with 16 points each for the Tigers.

THE BASICS
UNCW 52, Towson 49
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams battled early in the first quarter but a 7-0 run to close out the stanza gave UNCW a 14-8 lead after one. Rebekah Banks had four points during that run that gave the Seahawks a six-point lead that the Tigers would struggle to overcome.
• Each team scored four points in the early going of the second quarter and UNCW held an 18-12 lead with 6:57 showing on the clock. Baskets from sophomore guard Shanea Butler and Bankston pulled Towson to within two, 18-16 with 3:07 left in the stanza. An 8-4 run by the visitors gave UNCW a 26-20 lead at the break. Jasmine Steele drained a pair of threes during that run for the Seahawks.
• The two teams traded baskets to start the third quarter before back-to-back triples from Johnson and sophomore guard Breonn Hughey made it a 32-30 game with 5:48 left on the clock. A 6-1 run by the Seahawks pushed the visitor lead by back to seven, 38-31 with 1:51 to go in the stanza. Freshman guard Sianni Martin connected on a lay-up with 45 seconds left that made it a 38-33 game. However a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds gave UNCW a 40-33 lead after three.
• A 6-2 run to open the fourth quarter pulled Towson to within three, 42-39 with 6:03 left in the game. UNCW got a three-pointer from Steele which pushed its lead to six, 45-39 with 4:57 to go. Bankston completed a three-point play at 4:23 which again pulled the Tigers to within three, 45-42. However a pair of UNCW threes sandwiched around a lay-up from Bankston gave UNCW a 51-44 advantage with 2:11 to play. Five straight points from Johnson pulled Towson to within two, 51-49 with 23 seconds showing on the clock. The Tigers were forced to foul and Shatia Cole hit one-of-two which gave UNCW a 52-49 lead with 11 seconds left. Towson called timeout to advance the ball over half court and set up the play. The Tigers went to Johnson, looking for lightening to strike twice but her shot did not fall and UNCW claimed the victory.

QUOTABLE

• "At this time of the year we have to learn to be tougher," said Towson Head Coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "I think areas of the game that got us were on the boards offensively, being confident with the ball and turning it over and letting them get to the foul line."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson shot 34.4% from the field while holding UNCW to a 25.9 field goal percentage. The Seahawks benefitted from making eight three-pointers to the Tigers' three. The Seahawks were also 14-for-24 from the foul line while Towson was 4-for-5.
• Johnson finished with 16 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists. She hit two three-pointers and is now just three triples away from breaking the school record for career threes.
• Bankston contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.
• Freshman forward Brittany Tarr matched her career-high with eight rebounds.
• UNCW had six blocks to the Tigers' two.
• Steele led the Seahawks with 16 points while Banks had a game-high 15 rebounds and nine points.

The Tigers are back in action when they welcome Elon to SECU Arena on Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.