TOWSON, Md.  – After going 5-2 through nonconference action, the Towson University women's basketball team is set to begin Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play Sunday afternoon at James Madison. Sunday's showdown will be the first time Towson, the reigning CAA Champion, begins league play at James Madison since the 2014-15 campaign.
Tipoff at the newly opened Atlantic Union Bank Center is set for 2 p.m. Sunday's CAA showdown will air on FloHoops.com with an audio call on the JMU GloFiber Broadcast Network.
The Dukes return the trip to SECU Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 5 to round out the season series. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Towson.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing in its third game in a six-day stretch, Towson fell 78-69 against visiting Saint Francis in the nonconference finale. Towson was led by Kionna Jeter, who dropped in 19 points. She was joined in double figures by Shavonne Smith (17), Aleah Nelson (11) and Allie Kubek (10). Jeter led on the boards with eight while Kubek added seven. Saint Francis was paced by 21 points from Lili Benzel. Jada Dapaa added a double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Tigers wrapped up nonconference play with a 5-3 overall mark. Towson was riding a three-game winning streak into the Saint Francis showdown, topping Longwood (108-89), Salem (113-63) and Morgan State (95-59). One of the top scorers in the country, Kionna Jeter leads Towson with a 24.6 points per game average. Shavonne Smith (14.7), Aleah Nelson (13.7) and Allie Kubek (12.0) average double figures as well. Kubek leads on the glass, grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game, including 4.1 on the defensive end. Nelson runs the offense and is one of the top feeders in the nation, averaging 7.0 assists per game. Towson has scored on nearly half of its field goals, hitting 250-of-521 (.480), the best field goal percentage in the CAA. Towson also leads the league in points per game, putting up 92.4 an outing.
THE JAMES MADISON SERIES
(JMU Leads 44-6)
Sunday's game will be the 51st meeting all-time between the Tigers and the Dukes. James Madison leads the all-time series 44-6. The two sides split last season's meetings, with the home team defending. Towson topped JMU 76-75 on Jan. 12 for the Tigers' last win over the Dukes. Towson will be looking for its first win in Harrisonburg since a 60-55 win on Jan. 22, 2017. A win would halt a three-game slide in Harrisonburg.
SCOUTING THE DUKES
James Madison enters league play with a 4-3 overall record, falling to No. 14 Maryland in its last outing (101-59). The Dukes have dropped their last two decisions, falling 85-54 against rv West Virginia. JMU has been idle since the Maryland game on Dec. 19, its fifth game of the month. Kiki Jefferson (13.7), Peyton McDaniel (12.7) and Jamia Hazell (12.3) lead the scoring attack while two Dukes, Rayne Tucker (7.4) and Anne Diouf (7.0) pace rebounding. Three Dukes average over two assists per game, led by Brianna Tinsley (2.8).
LAST TIME AGAINST JMU
Towson and James Madison last squared off in early February, 2020 in the Tigers' final trip the Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was a tough night offensively for Towson, which fell 81-39. Towson was held to single digits in the first and fourth quarters. Nukiya Mayo led Towson with 13 points and eight boards. Kionna Jeter chipped in eight points and eight rebounds as well. The Dukes had five in double figures, led by Kamiah Smalls and her 24 points. She added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Earlier in the season, Towson nabbed a 76-75 win at SECU Arena over the Dukes for the season split.
JETER MOVES TO SEVENTH
After a three games in a six-day stretch, senior guard Kionna Jeter has moved into seventh overall on the Towson University women's basketball scoring list. The Spartanburg, South Carolina product has 1,270 career points, moving her past Ruth Ann Holter's 1,264 (1984-88). Next on the list at sixth is Dominique Johnson at 1,345.
TIGERS IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
One of the top scoring teams in the country, Towson ranks fourth nationally in points per game (92.4). The Tigers trail only New Mexico (103.7), Maryland (97.3) and Ohio State (96.2). Towson is one of six Division I programs averaging better than 90 points an outing. Delaware is second in the CAA with an 86.3 points per game average.
Individually, Kionna Jeter has racked up 172 points already in 2020-21, a total that ranks eight nationally. She is 12th in Division I in points per game (24.6) and second in the CAA. Aleah Nelson is one of the top feeders in the nation, ranking seventh with 7.0 assists per game. Nelson is tops in the CAA by over two assists per game.
GOING FOR WIN 50
Head Coach Diane Richardson has won 48 games during her tenure at Towson University. She is 48-51 with a CAA Championship in her second season (2018-19). Richardson is lined up to be the second-fastest coach in program history to hit the 50-wins milestone.
Sheilah Collins - 83 Games
Ellen Fitzkee - 128 Games
Joe Matthews - 158 Games
Diane Richardson - 48-51 (99 Games)
COMMON FOE
Towson and James Madison have one common opponent through the nonconference portion of the season: Maryland. The Tigers battled hard against the No. 11 Terps but fell 112-78. James Madison dropped a 101-59 decision against No. 14 Maryland.
