TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team pulled to within three with 57 seconds to play but could not complete the comeback as James Madison University claimed a 64-57 win in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action Friday afternoon. Freshman guard Sianni Martin scored all 14 of her points in the second half for the Tigers.

THE BASICS
James Madison 64, Towson 57
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• James Madison used a three-pointer from Jazmon Gwathmey to open up an 8-4 lead with 5:46 to go in the first. Towson scored eight of the next 10 points and took a 12-10 lead with 2:32 showing on the clock. Junior guard Raven Bankston had five points during that stretch while junior forward Brianna Bush scored the other three. Gwathmey scored the final five points of the quarter and the Dukes (12-5, 5-1 CAA) took a 15-12 advantage after one.
• James Madison outscored the Tigers 15-4 in the second quarter and took a 30-16 lead at the half. Hailee Barron came off the bench to knock down a pair of threes for the Dukes in that stanza.
• A jumper from Gwathmey gave James Madison a 34-18 lead with 8:51 to play in the third. That was the Dukes' largest lead of the game. An 8-0 run pulled the Tigers to within eight, 34-26 with 5:53 to go in the stanza. James Madison responded with a 7-0 run of its own and extended its lead to 41-29 with 3:03 left in the quarter. Towson scored eight of the final 12 points in the quarter and the Dukes held a 45-37 lead after three quarters. Martin had four points during that quarter closing run.
• Barron hit a three-pointer that gave James Madison a 50-41 advantage with 7:29 to play. Towson used a 16-10 run to cut the Dukes' lead to three, 60-57 with 57 seconds to play. Freshman guard AJ Timbers drained a pair of three-pointers during that run while Bankston added five points. James Madison went 4-for-4 in the final 20 seconds of the game to seal the 64-57 win.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson was led by Bankston who had 15 points, four steals and four rebounds. Martin posted all 14 of her points in the second half.
• Bush tallied seven points and six rebounds for the Tigers.
• Towson shot just 7.7% from the field in the second quarter. The Tigers were also held to just eight steals. It was the first time in five games that the Tigers were held to less than 10 steals.
• Gwathmey led the Dukes with 28 points while Barron added 17 points.

The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, Jan. 24 at Hofstra. That game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but due to weather expected to hit the area, the Tigers will now play 30 minutes after the men's game which starts at 12 noon.