NEWARK, Del. – Players on the Towson University women's basketball team trudged slowly out of the locker room following a tough 51-49 setback to Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest at the Bob Carpenter Center Sunday afternoon.
 
Walking with a deliberate, unhurried gait while speaking in hushed tones, the Tigers were disappointed.

They could take solace in the fact that they expended every ounce of energy they had. There was nothing more to give.

Towson played with ferocious desperation and fierce scowls on its sweat-soaked faces. Scores of shots didn't fall consistently, but plenty of bodies crashed to the floor in the intense affair.
 
Mary Cuevas soared for rebounds. Danielle Durjan dove for loose balls. Etalyia Vogt kept attacking. Nukiya Mayo fiercely defended. Raine Bankston relentlessly pressured the ball.
 
The Tigers showcased grit, determination, and heart. They were less than 30 seconds away from a huge road victory. That's why this setback was hard to digest.
 
However, there were glowing embers in the ashes of defeat as the talented Tigers believe they took more steps forward in their evolution under first year head coach Diane Richardson.
 
Records
Towson           7-10 overall, 2-4 CAA
Delaware         11-5, 4-1
 
Quotable
Towson head coach Diane Richardson on the effort of her team.
"We battled in the second half. I think we're a better basketball team than we showed today. We started so slow and I am trying to get them to understand that we have to play like the entire game. In the second half we worked hard, turned them over and our defensive assignments were working really well. I was proud of how they came out in the second half, but we have to understand to put four quarters together."
 
Durjan on what the team can take from this setback.
"It's a lesson for us. We weren't working together early and we had a lot of things we needed to fix. Those little things we have to fix for the next game, but we're learning. In losing, you learn a lot. I like the fact that we are going through this because this is only going to make us stronger."
 
How It Happened

• Delaware's Abby Gonzales made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the baseline with 13 seconds remaining to give the Blue Hens a 49-47 advantage.
• Towson had a chance to tie, but its shot missed and the Blue Hens added a pair of free throws to extend their winning streak to four games.
• Cuevas and Danielle Durjan led the Tigers with 15 points each.
• Cuevas, who added a game-high 13 points for her eighth double-double, gave Towson a 47-46 lead with 1:48 remaining.
• Durjan helped the Tigers rally from a pair of late deficits.
• Her layup with 2:31 remaining pulled the Tigers to within, 46-45.
• Durjan scored six points that bridged the third and fourth quarters.
• First, she swished a 3-pointer as the third quarter buzzer sounded that pulled TU to within, 41-39, entering the final frame.
• Then 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, Durjan showcasing tenacity on the offensive glass, turned garbage into gold and made the ensuing foul shot to complete the old fashioned 3-point play, which gave Towson a 42-41 advantage.
• Towson overcame a difficult second quarter in which it was outscored 19-7.
• Durjan sank a 3-pointer that gave Towson its largest lead of the game, 21-13, with 8:35 left in the first half.
• The Tigers started fast by sprinting to an 18-11 lead behind the Cuevas and Vogt, who combined for 12 points in the opening 10 minutes.
• Delaware got 14 points each from Nicole Enabosi (10 rebounds and five blocked shots) and Gonzales (five assists).

 
Inside the Numbers

• This was Cuevas' 12th consecutive game and 13th time this season reaching double digits in points.
• With pilfering hands and larceny in her heart, Bankston finished with a season best six steals.
• Mayo added eight rebounds.
• Towson won the battle of the boards, 46-43, the 14th time this season it has finished with at least 40 rebounds.
• Long scoring droughts hurt Towson during the second and fourth quarter.
• In the second quarter, the Tigers went 6:44 between points.
• During that stretch, Delaware scored 12 consecutive points.
• In the fourth quarter, Towson went 5:17 without a point while UD reversed its one-point deficit to grab a 46-42 advantage.
• The Tigers had 13 steals for the second straight game.
• Six players had at least one steal.
• This was the ninth time this season Towson recorded double digit steals in a single game.
• Towson's tough defense forced 21 Delaware turnovers and held the Blue Hens to 3-of-14 shooting in the final quarter.
• This was Durjan's fourth game this season in double figures.
• This was the seventh game this season in which Durjan made at least two 3-pointers.
• Freshman Rayna Barbour had a career best two steals during the second quarter.

 
Up Next
Towson continues its three-game road trip when it returns to action Friday at Elon. Tip-time from Alumni Gym at 7 p.m.