WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW scored the final three points of the game to claim a 53-51 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Junior guard Raven Bankston scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Tigers.

THE BASICS
UNCW 53, Towson 51
Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Towson opened the game with the hot hand taking an 8-1 lead with 7:53 to play in the quarter. UNCW responded with a 10-0 run and took an 11-8 advantage with 4:21 showing on the clock. Bankston and Shatia Cole each had four points early for their respective squads. The two teams traded baskets before freshman guard Sianni Martin's three-pointer with 23 seconds left gave Towson a 19-16 lead after one quarter.
• The Tigers scored the first four points of the second quarter and held a 23-16 lead with 7:08 left on the clock. Amber Reeves made one-of-two from the foul line with 5:12 left in the quarter which made it a 25-22 game. A 5-2 run by the Tigers gave Towson a 30-24 lead with 1:14 to play in the quarter. UNCW scored the final three points of the quarter and Towson took a 30-27 lead at the half.
• Towson scored four of the first five points in the third quarter and led 34-28 with 7:33 to play in the quarter. Redshirt sophomore forward Jordyn Smith had a bucket for the Tigers during that stretch. An 8-2 run by UNCW tied the game at 36-36 with 1:06 showing on the clock. Cole scored five of the Seahawks' eight points during the stretch. Sophomore guard Shanea Butler hit a jumper at the buzzer and Towson took a 38-36 lead at three quarters.
• Towson and UNCW went back-and-forth to start the fourth quarter. Bankston hit a pair of free throws with 5:05 to play that gave Towson a 45-43 advantage. The two teams continued to battle as redshirt sophomore guard Raine Bankston's jumper with 1:32 on the clock tied the game at 47-47. A three-pointer from Jasmine Steele gave UNCW a 50-47 edge with 1:16 to go in the game.
• A pair of free throws from Raven Bankston and a lay-up from sophomore center Daijha Thomas put Towson ahead 51-50 with 28 seconds to play. UNCW called timeout and following the break a jumper from Steele gave the home team a 52-51 edge with 18 seconds left on the clock. An offensive foul on the Tigers gave UNCW the ball back and Towson was forced to foul. Madison Raque hit one-of-two from the foul line with 11 seconds to play which gave UNCW a 53-51 lead. Towson's final shot was blocked and the Seahawks claimed the victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Bankston was 7-for-16 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line en route to her 22 points. It was Bankston's seventh 20+ point performance of the season. It was also the fifth time this season she has made seven or more shots from the foul line.
• All 10 Tigers who played in the game scored at least a point, however Bankston was the only Tiger in double figures.
• UNCW held a slim 35-34 edge in the rebounding battle. Jordan Henry led UNCW with 10 rebounds while Raine Bankston was the Tigers' leading rebounder with seven.
• Cole led UNCW with 19 points while Steele added 17 points. Each player dished out five assists in the game.  

The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, Jan. 31 when they travel to College of Charleston for a 2 p.m. game.