TOWSON, Md. – Tuesday afternoon the Towson University women's basketball team opened the 2019-20 campaign against Penn State at home. The Tigers fell 73-67, led by
Kionna Jeter and
Q. Murray with 18 points each.
Nukiya Mayo had a big game with a double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds.
How it Happened
- Towson wasted no time getting the season started as redshirt-junior Kionna Jeter scored the opening points for the home team.
- A back and forth first period ended with a Tiger lead by three points, 11-8, five of those points scored off of turnovers.
- In the second quarter the home team saw four points scored off the bench as Myka Johnson-Matthews and Myasia Jones entered the game. Towson continued to lead, finishing the first half up 24-18.
- The next 10 minutes held nine free throws from the Nittany Lions and 42.1 percent shooting from the field. Penn State took and held the lead after scoring 25 points in the third quarter.
- Towson saw seven points from redshirt-senior Q. Murray in the third but scored just 13 points as the road team went on a 6-0 run in the beginning of the period.
- The Tigers trailed 43-37 to start the fourth.
- Nukiya Mayo had a strong outing in the fourth going 4-4 at the line and scoring seven points while Jeter posted nine and Ryan Holder put in six.
- Towson scored 30 points to match Penn State's 30 in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough.
- Holder made a layup with 2:23 on the clock putting the Tigers within two points of tying the game but a foul on the next possession sent the Lady Lions to the line and extended the lead to three.
- Penn State continued to score, reaching a 10-point advantage before a three from Murray and free throw from Jeter closed the gap to six at the end.
Beyond the Box
- Nukiya Mayo's double-double is the first of the campaign and the first time a Towson player has recorded a double-double since the March 14th game against Delaware in the 2019 CAA Championship.
- Mayo also shot 100 percent from the free throw line, this is her fifth straight game with a perfect free throw shooting percentage dating back to the March 14th game in the CAA Championship.
- In last year's season opener Kionna Jeter led the Tigers with 13 points, this is her second straight season opening game with at least 10 as a Towson player.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers head to the west coast for a pair of games in San Diego starting Saturday, Nov. 9 at San Diego State.
