TOWSON, Md. – For over half of the game the Towson University women's basketball had visiting Drexel University reeling, but a late fourth-quarter surge by the Dragons nipped the Tigers 62-54.
 
Towson (9-18, 4-12 CAA) led for over 22 of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game at SECU Arena, but the Dragons out-scored Towson 24-17 in the final frame. Mary Cuevas added another double-double to her senior season with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Nukiya Mayo joined her in double digits with 10 points.
 
Drexel (22-6, 14-2 CAA) shot 60 percent from the field in the second half after hitting just three of 17 shots in the second quarter. The Dragons, who are currently second in the league standings, had three players in double figures, paced by a game-high 16 points from Aubree Brown. Bailey Greenberg finished with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
How It Happened

• It took time for the offense on both ends to get going; Drexel scored the first basket at 8:28 of the first and Towson did not find the board until tying the game at 5:51 on a Cuevas layup.
• Towson went on an 11-2 run over the next six minutes, taking a nine-point, 13-4 lead with 35 seconds to play in the quarter. Drexel got a 3-pointer from Hannah Nihill for a 13-7 Towson lead through the first 10 minutes.
• The Tigers held a lead of at least five points through the first seven minutes of the second quarter. Towson led 17-10 at the 6:42 mark after Jalynn Holmes knocked down a mid-range jumper.
• The Dragons whittled the lead down to three at 2:57 as Kelsi Lidge hit the front end of two free throws. Towson rebuilt a six-point lead after an old-fashioned three-point play from Cuevas at 2:34, but Brown knocked down a trey at 2:06 to make it 21-18 in favor of Towson.
• Daijha Thomas hit the last field goal of the first half with 33 seconds to play as Towson took a 23-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• Drexel took its first lead since the first quarter at 8:35 of the third on a Greenberg jumper, but a put-back from Thomas regained a Towson lead at 25-24.
• Nihill hit a three-ball to give the Dragons a two-point lead but another Thomas offensive rebound and layup tied the game for a second time at 7:08 of the third.
• Towson grabbed another five-point lead with 2:35 to play in the frame after Danielle Durjan hit two free throws, but the Dragons finished the quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 38-37 lead at the final quarter break.
• With 7:12 to play, the game tied for a fourth time after Brown hit a free throw. Drexel took a four-point, 49-45 lead with 4:25 left in regulation that was cut to two after a Mayo layup.
• Drexel went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 10-point lead at 55-45 and held a double-digit lead through the remainder of the game until Durjan knocked down a 3-pointer with seven seconds to play. 

Behind the Numbers

• Cuevas notched a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. She hauled down 13 defensive rebounds. Thomas had six total rebounds, including three on offense that led to six of her eight points.
• Both teams shot nearly 60 percent in the fourth quarter as Towson hit seven of its 12 attempts (58.3 percent) while Drexel made nine of 16 in the final 10 minutes (60.0 percent).
• Drexel grabbed one more rebound than the Tigers did, 35-34, but Towson grabbed 28 on Dragon misses.
• Towson had a stronger showing at the line, hitting eight of its 11 chances as the Dragons made 11 of 16 from the free throw line.
• The Tigers had four blocks, including two from Thomas and another one from each of Mayo and Cuevas. Sara Woods had the only Drexel block in the game.

Up Next For Towson

• Towson splits its final two games of the regular season next week. The Tigers head to UNCW on Thursday for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Seahawks.
• The Tigers return home on Saturday for Senior Day against the Blue Hens of Delaware. Game time in the SECU Arena finale is set for 2 p.m.

 
- TowsonTigers.com –