When: Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Where: SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
Time: Tuesday: 11 a.m.
Team Records: Towson (5-4) vs. Memphis (5-5)
Stream: FloHoops ($)
Series: First Meeting

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team welcomes Memphis for the first time in program history on Tuesday morning. 
 
Lockdown Defender
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas has been a hawk of the defensive side of the ball, leading the team in steals and steals per game. Kornegay-Lucas ranks 15th in the nation and leads the CAA in steals with 30. The redshirt junior averages the ninth most steals per game and ranks second in the conference averaging 3.3 steals per game.
 
League Honors  
Redshirt junior guard Kylie Kornegay-Lucas was named CAA Player of the Week after flirting with a triple-double in the 83-72 win against Longwood. Kornegay-Lucas had 29 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and a career-high five blocks and three steals. The guard from Camden, Del., had a career-high 11 field goals and three triples on 68.7 FG percentage.
 
New Faces
Towson added six newcomers this season for the 2022-23 season. Four players played college basketball last year, with two incoming freshmen. Taiye Johnson transferred after three years at Radford, while Alexia Nelson comes after two years at UMBC. Alina Sendar comes in after one year at Georgia and Pat Anumgba comes from CCBC Essex. India Johnston and Gabby Scott will make their collegiate debuts this season.
 
Preseason Honors
Anissa Rivera was picked to Preseason All-CAA First Team after being named All-CAA Preseason Honorable Mention last year. Rivera led the Tigers last season in rebounding, averaging 7.1 boards a game, including a season-best 14 against Frostburg State.
 
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas was named to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team. Kornegay-Lucas was the 2021-22 CAA Sixth Player of the Year after averaging 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game off the bench. The Camden, Del. native led the Tigers in steals with 40 and finished second in assists with 71.
 
At the Helm
Coach Laura Harper was announced as the Head Coach of Towson's women's basketball program in April. This is her first season in charge of the Tigers. Harper previously coached Coppin State for the last two years. She inherits a squad that went 24-8 and made a WNIT appearance last year.
 
SECU Fortress
The Tigers hold a 71-55 (.564) home record since SECU Arena was built, including a 31-17 (.645) record against non-conference opponents.
 
Preseason Poll
The CAA announced its annual Preseason Poll to start the season. The Tigers were picked to finish fifth but received two first-place votes, the second most of any CAA team. Drexel was picked to finish first, receiving 10 votes.
 
Tigers In the Postseason
Towson has reached the postseason three times in the past 15 years. The team made its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. They also advanced to the WBI in 2010. Towson earned their second trip to the Postseason WNIT after a 24-8 season last year.
 
Scouting Memphis
The Tigers started the season with a 77-69 loss to Columbia but bounced back with a 101-54 win against Howard. Memphis continued its win streak with a 76-51 win against Miami (OH). The Tigers hit the road and defeated SIUE 94-49. Memphis was victorious against Southern Illinois 89-76. At the Las Vegas Invitational, Memphis lost both games against St. John's, 61-57, and #6 Indiana, 79-64. The Tigers faced off against the defending champion #1 South Carolina and fell 79-54. Memphis returned home to face North Carolina Central and picked up a 92-66 win. In the most recent game, the Tigers lost to Middle Tennessee State 69-53. Memphis gets to the free throw line the fifth most in the nation, averaging 27.20 attempts and making 16.80 per game, which ranks 16th in the country. The Tigers average 16.1 offense rebounds per game to rank 18th in the NCAA.
 
Last Time Out  
Towson traveled to the nation's capital in a Saturday afternoon showdown against Howard. The teams started the first quarter trading baskets. The Tigers took a one-point lead into the second quarter after India Johnston hit a floater with five seconds remaining. The second quarter started with an 8-0 run behind consecutive three-pointers from Johnston. Howard tied the score at 28, but Skye Williams made a driving layup to give Towson a 30-28 lead at halftime. The third quarter was back-and-forth, with the teams trading buckets and were tied heading into the fourth quarter. Quinzia Fulmore gave the Tigers lead after making three consecutive layups, but Howard reduced the deficit to two. Towson responded with a 9-0 run to seal the victory 68-58.
 
Next Up
 The Tigers will host UMass Lowell on Dec. 23^rd at noon in SECU Arena in their final non-conference matchup.