WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A big fourth quarter helped the College of William & Mary break open up a one-point game and claim a 78-65 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. Freshman forward Brittany Tarr led the Tigers with a career-high 21 points in the contest.

THE BASICS
William & Mary 78, Towson 65
Kaplan Arena, Williamsburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams struggled to find their shot early as the first basket of the game didn't come until 7:55.
• Towson jumped out to a 7-2 lead with 6:53 to go in the quarter as Tarr made a jumper.
• The Tigers continued to shoot the ball well as Tarr's jumper at 3:54 gave Towson a 15-4 lead.
• William & Mary scored 10 of the final 16 points in the quarter but the visitors held a 21-14 advantage after one period of play.
• Towson opened the second quarter on a 9-3 run and led 30-17 with 5:58 showing on the clock. Junior guard Raven Bankston had five points for the Tigers during that run.
• William & Mary called timeout following Bankston's bucket and out of the break used a 14-1 run to close out the second quarter. That run powered by six points from Alexandra Masaquel gave the Tribe a 33-31 lead at the half.
• A 7-2 run by William & Mary to start the third quarter gave the home team a 40-33 advantage and forced the Tigers to call timeout with 7:47 to go in the period.
• The Tigers scored 12 of the next 16 points and led 45-44 with 3:46 left in the period. Senior guard Dominique Johnson powered the Tigers during that stretch with a pair of three-pointers.
• William & Mary went back on top briefly on a basket from Masaquel before a traditional three-point play from Tarr gave Towson a 48-46 lead with 2:28 left in the period.
• The two sides traded baskets before a three-pointer from freshman guard Sianni Martin gave Towson a 53-51 edge with 28 seconds to go in the quarter.
• Masaquel completed a tradition three-point play with one second left in the quarter and William & Mary took a 54-53 lead after three.
• William & Mary opened the fourth quarter on a 16-3 run and led 72-57 with 4:58 to go in the game. Jenna Green connected on back-to-back threes for the Tribe during that run.
• The two squads continued to battle over the final 4:30 of the game but the Tribe was able to maintain its lead and claimed the 78-65 victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson shot 60% from the field in the first quarter and finished the game shooting 47.3%.
• William & Mary shot just 33% from the field in the first quarter but finished the game shooting 54.7% from the field.
• In addition to her career-high 21 points, Tarr grabbed six rebounds in the contest. Her third rebound of the game gave her 100 for the season. She is the first Tiger freshman since Dovile Miliauskaite to grab 100 or more rebounds in her rookie season.
• Bankston finished with 20 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals. Her third point of the game gave her 400 points for the season. She is the 17th player in program history to score at least 400 points in a single-season.
• Redshirt sophomore forward Jordyn Smith pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Raine Bankston dished out seven assists.
• Towson won the rebounding battle 32-27.
• In a battle of the top two teams in the CAA for steals per game, William & Mary finished with nine while the Tigers had seven.
• William & Mary was led by Masaquel, who had a game-high 28 points. 

The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 28 when they host Northeastern at 2 p.m. in SECU Arena. The Tigers will welcome their alumnae that day.