TOWSON, Md. – Playing for the first time in 20 days, the Towson women's basketball team defeated Hofstra 65-60 on Saturday afternoon at SECU Arena in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.
 
Kionna Jeter scored a game-high 24 points for the Tigers (6-3, 1-1 CAA). Aleah Nelson added 18 points and seven assists.
 
The Tigers last played Jan. 3 at James Madison but had league five games postponed after a positive COVID test in the program.
 
Towson used a 12-0 run to lead by as many as 16 midway through the second quarter, but Hofstra chipped away and took a 51-50 lead with 5:12 to play. It was the only lead of the game for the Pride.
 
Jeter scored back-to-back baskets to give Towson a three-point cushion, 54-51. After Hofstra cut it to 54-53, Nelson hit a runner as the shot clock was expiring and then the two combined to go 8/8 from the FT line in the final 40 seconds to secure the victory.
 
JaKayla Brown scored 19 points and had five rebounds for Hofstra. The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon at SECU Arena.
 
Towson University women's basketball coach Diane Richardson will miss this weekend's games due to COVID-19 protocols. Associate head coach Zach Kancher is leading the team in her absence.
 
Records: 

• Towson – 6-3 (1-1 CAA)
• Hofstra – 4-9 (2-5 CAA)

 
Key Stats: 

• The Tigers led for 39:10 seconds of the game.
• Jeter and Nelson scored 14 of the final 15 points of the game for Towson.

• Towson centers LaKaitlin Wright and Kiara Johnson combined for 15 rebounds.

 
Postgame Quotes:

• Towson associate head coach Zach Kancher: "Anytime you have a break, you have to figure out a way to find a rhythm. The ball did not go into the hole today but we were able to get stops on the other end. I give the kids a lot of credit. Their head coach was not here. It could have went one of two ways but they decided that was not going to be a factor in this game." 
• Towson guard Aleah Nelson: "We made tough shots down the stretch and came together when it counted. I know Coach Rich was not here today, but she is always preaching that Melo (Jeter) and I need to take over late in the game and that is what we did today. Hitting those free throws was key because instead of a one possession game, we made sure it stayed a two possession game." 

 
How it Happened: 

• Towson took a 10-1 lead after two and a half minutes of action. Jeter scored five points during the run. Nelson and freshman Allie Kubek had the other buckets.
• The Tigers led 17-11 at the end of the 1^st quarter. Jeter had eight points.
• With the score 19-15, Towson went on a 12-0 run over a 4-minute period to open a 16-point advantage. Jeter and Nelson started the run with a pair of 3's. Then Nelson found Kubek down low. Skye Williams had back-to-back baskets to finish the run.  
• Hofstra ended the half on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 31-22 after 20 minutes of play.
• Nelson scored seven third quarter points, but the Pride narrowed the gap to 43-40 after 30 minutes of action.
• Hofstra began the final quarter on an 11-7 run to take a 51-50 lead on layup by JaKayla Brown with 5:12 to play.
• Jeter gave the Tigers the lead back 29 seconds later with a jumper.
• A few possessions later, Shavonne Smith made a steal. Jeter converted to give Towson a 3-point cushion, 54-51.
• After a Hofstra basket, Nelson hit a runner as the shot clock was running down to put Towson up 56-53 with 1:45 left.
• Nelson went 4-for-4 from the FT line during a 20-second period to extend the lead to 61-57.
• Jeter then went 4-for-4 from the FT line in the final 10 seconds for the final margin.

 
Inside the Numbers: 

• Towson entered the game raked in the country in scoring average (91.6), trailing only Maryland (92.5). After Saturday, the Tigers are now third, averaging 88.6 points per game.
• Jeter entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (24.6).
• Jeter has scored 10 or more points in 17 consecutive games and 39 of her last 40 dating back to the 2018-19 season. As a Tiger, Jeter has scored in double figures 65 times in 71 career games. She has 1,319 career points in a Towson uniform, which ranks seventh on the all-time list.  
• Nelson has topped the Tigers in assists in each of the nine games this season. The sophomore from Baltimore came into the game, tied for fourth in the country averaging 7.0 assists per contest. 

 
Next Game: 
Towson will host Hofstra tomorrow afternoon at SECU Arena. Game time is 2 p.m. Virtual season tickets are available now, get your personalized fan cutout today: contact Josh Behringer at 410-704-3330 or jbehringer@towson.edu.