AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomore Nukiya Mayo dropped in a career-high 19 points but it was not enough as the Towson University women's basketball team fell to the University of Massachusetts, 72-49 in the Tigers' season opener. Mayo was joined in double figures by senior Daijha Thomas, who tossed in 10 points.

THE BASICS
UMass 72, Towson 49
Mullins Center, Amherst, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams traded bucket early as lay-up from Mayo pulled the Tigers to within two, 6-4 with 6:46 to play in the first quarter.
• UMass (2-0) used a 9-2 run to take a 15-6 lead with 2:40 to go in the stanza. Genesis Rivera scored five of the Minutewomen's nine during that stretch.
• Towson got back-to-back buckets from freshmen Jalynn Holmes and Tess Borgosz and pulled to within five, 15-10 with 29 seconds left in the frame.
• UMass used a late three to take an 18-10 lead after one period of play.
• Towson scored the first five points of the second quarter, behind a three-pointer from junior Danielle Durjan and a pair of free throws from Mayo. That made it an 18-15 game with 9:30 showing on the scoreboard.
• Rivera scored four of the next six points and pushed the Minutewomen's lead to seven, 24-17 with 7:07 left in the period.
• The two teams traded buckets down the stretch as UMass took a 32-21 lead at the half.
• UMass opened the third quarter on a 10-5 run and took a 42-26 advantage with 6:50 to go in the period.
• The two teams continued to battle as the home squad took a 52-32 lead after three periods of play.
• Mayo tacked on seven points in the fourth quarter to lead all scorers in that period but UMass claimed the 72-49 victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson played its first game under the direction of new head coach Diane Richardson.
• Mayo's previous career-high for points in a game had been 13 against Rider last year. She added six rebounds.
• Thomas finished with five rebounds and two blocks. With her two swats on the day, Thomas tied and then passed her mother, Gail Scriber and former Tiger Katrina Wheeler for ninth place on the career blocks list at Towson. Thomas now has 62 blocks while Scriber and Wheeler had 61.
• Senior Mary Cuevas led Towson the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds.
• The Tigers won the rebounding battled 40-34 over UMass.
• UMass shot 43.5% from the field while the Tigers posted a 33.9%.
• Towson was strong from the free throw line, making 10 of 11 chances.
• Rivera led UMass with 21 points and seven rebounds in the game.  

The Tigers will be back in action when they play their home opener on Thursday, November 16. Towson welcomes George Washington to SECU Arena for a