CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Overcoming a slow start, the Towson University women's basketball team played shutdown defense in the second half to take an 83-58 win on the road at the College of Charleston.
 
Towson (8-11, 3-6 CAA) had three players in double digits at TD Arena on Sunday, including a game-high 22 from Raine Bankston. Senior Mary Cuevas added another double-double to her season, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
 
College of Charleston (5-14, 1-7 CAA) was paced by 16 points from Deja Ford. The two teams split the regular season series after the Cougars won 80-67 in Towson earlier this season.



How It Happened

• It was a back-and-forth first quarter, featuring three lead changes and two ties.
• Towson struggled from the field, hitting five of 21 from the floor (23.8 percent) but controlled the boards, 16-11, thanks to five from Mary Cuevas.
• The Tigers came alive in the second quarter, out-scoring the Cougars 23-9 in the frame.
• Cuevas completed the double-double, her 10th of the season, with 12 points and 10 boards through 20 minutes.
• Raine Bankston came on strong in the second quarter as Towson built to its largest lead of 13 at 2:26 as she had seven points.
• Towson put together an 11-1 run over a three-minute stretch late in the second quarter to create separation.
• Towson shot 36.4 percent from the field in the second quarter, knocking down eight of 22 chances.
• On the other side, Charleston made just three shots from the field and only one free throw. Towson took a 37-25 lead into the break.
• After the pause, it was Charleston that came out strong, putting together a 6-2 run and cutting the lead to six, 40-34, near the midway point of the quarter. Beyond the media timeout, Ford got an old-fashioned three-point play and made it a three-point contest.
• But the Tigers closed the frame on an 8-2 run, sparked by a Nukiya Mayo layup. Towson led 58-43 through the first three quarters.
• Towson's lead was never challenged in the fourth quarter as the Tigers built up to a 20-point lead after Jalynn Holmes canned a jumper, making it 71-51. The Tigers eventually built up to a 25-point lead late in the frame.

• Three Tigers hit double figures. Bankston and Cuevas led the game with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Danielle Durjan joined the pair with 16 points.
• Cuevas had her 15th-straight game with at least 10 points while adding her 10th double-double of the year.
• Mayo also pulled 12 boards while adding eight points.
• The Tiger defense was efficient, swiping the ball eight times, with three each from Durjan and Bankston. Towson finished with eight blocks, including four blocks from Cuevas.
• Towson was quick off those turnovers, scoring 12 fast break points along with 16 points off of 18 Charleston miscues.

• Towson has a bye game Friday and returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 28.
• The Tigers host Elon for a 2 p.m. game.
• It will be the second meeting between the Tigers and the Phoenix in the last 10 days.
• Elon won 84-61 in North Carolina on Friday.