TOWSON, Md. -- The Towson University women's basketball program is set to return to action this weekend as the Tigers host College of Charleston for a pair on Saturday and Sunday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. both days on FloHoops.com.
HEAD COACH UPDATE
Towson University women's basketball coach Diane Richardson will take the court for the first time since the beginning on January due to COVID-19 protocols. Richardson's last game coaching the Tigers was against JMU on Jan. 3. The Dukes won the tight contest, 89-85.
HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Tigers are bringing back some very special alumni to help celebrate Black History Month during the month of February. On Saturday, 2016 graduate and program leader in 3-pointers made, Dominique Johnson will announce the starting lineup for Towson. Single-season assist leader and 2020 graduate Q. Murray will follow with a halftime interview. Maia Lee, who graduated in 2018 and obtained her Master's in 2019, will announce Sunday's starters. Two-time All-CAA team selection and recent 2020 graduate Nukiya Mayo will also be featured in an interview during halftime. Alumni celebrations will occur over Zoom.
LAST TIME OUT (JAN. 24)
The Tigers are coming off a postponement of two games last weekend against William & Mary. The Tigers completed a weekend sweep over Hofsta with a 92-64 win at SECU Arena on Sunday, Jan. 24. Kionna Jeter (26) led the game in scoring with Aleah Nelson (22) following closely behind. Shavonne Smith also added 18 points and led the team with six rebounds. Towson also set a new program best with 14 3-point field goals.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Towson will look to keep up its high-scoring offense in just its second home conference series of the season. The Tigers are second in the nation in scoring average (88.9) and first in the CAA. Towson also leads the nation in transition points with 32.9 points per game as of Jan. 25. Preseason Player of the Year Kionna Jeter leads Towson's offensive charge with 24.7 points per game, ranking sixth in the country and first in the CAA. Aleah Nelson (14.7) and Shavonne Smith (14.6) also join Jeter in double figures. Freshman Allie Kubek leads the way on the glass with 6.0 rebounds per game. Nelson's 7.0 assists per game guides the Towson offensive attack. Nelson's efficiency in taking care of the basketball has also not gone unnoticed with the sophomore currently sitting tied for 7th in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.33.
THE CHARLESTON SERIES (Towson leads 12-4)
The Tigers lead the all-time series 12-4 between the two programs including five straight wins over the Cougars. The College of Charleston owns a 1-5 record at SECU Arena, with its last win at Towson coming in 2017.
LOOKING INTO THE COUGARS
Charleston enters the weekend series with a 6-4 overall mark along with a 2-2 record in conference play. Tyler Collins leads the offense in both scoring and assists with 14.6 and 3.3, per game, respectively. Arynn Eady is the top Cougar rebounder with 10 boards per contest. Charleston split its most recent series with JMU losing the first game, 70-56 and winning the second, 65-63.
LAST TIME AGAINST CHARLESTON
Towson outscored Charleston 83-72 in their last meeting on Feb. 2, 2020. Kionna Jeter had a historic game, netting 19 points, including her 1,000th career point. Nukiya Mayo posted a double-double, leading the offense with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
JETER MOVES TO SIXTH
Kionna Jeter is currently tied for sixth overall on the Towson University women's basketball scoring list with Dominique Johnson. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native has 1,345 career points. Next on the list is Nukiaya Mayo at 1,372.
RICHARDSON CAPTURES WIN 50
Head Coach Diane Richardson has now won 50 games during her tenure at Towson University. She is 50-52 with a CAA Championship in her second season (2018-19). Richardson is now the second-fastest coach in program history to hit the 50-wins milestone. .
Sheilah Collins - 83 Games
Diane Richardson - 50-52 (102 Games)
Ellen Fitzkee - 128 Games
Joe Matthews - 158 Games
