When: Friday, December 23, 2022
Where: SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
Time: Friday: 12 p.m.
Team Records: Towson (5-5) vs. UMass Lowell (1-8)
Stream: FloHoops ($)
Series: Towson Leads UMass Lowell 2-0

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team wraps up non-conference play at SECU Arena against UMass Lowell on Friday afternoon. 
 
Chasing Milestones
Three Tigers are close to achieving career milestones. Kylie Kornegay-Lucas is eight points away from 500 career points, while Skye Williams is 69 points away from 500 career points at Towson. Anissa Rivera is 51 points away from totaling 1000 career points.
 
The Sky is the Limit
Skye Williams has started the season on fire. Williams is shooting 53.3% from the floor this season, including six games where she has finished with 50% or better. The graduate student from Indianapolis, Indiana is averaging a career-best 9.4 pts per game and playing in a career-high 27.4 minutes per game.
 
Home Sweet Home
The Tigers play five of the next six games at SECU Arena, including a three-game homestand. Towson wraps up non-conference play with Memphis and UMass Lowell, then starts CAA play with Charleston before heading on the road to Philadelphia to play Drexel. The Tigers return for games against CAA newcomer Hampton and William & Mary.
 
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 23rd in the nation and leads the CAA in steals with 31. The redshirt junior averages the 15th most steals per game and ranks second in the conference averaging 3.1 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 a 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 Patricia Anumgba comes from CCBC Essex. India Johnston and Gabby Scott made 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 71-56 (.559) home record since SECU Arena was built, including a 31-18 (.632) 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 UMass Lowell
The Riverhawks come into Towson with a 1-8 record this season. UMass Lowell opened its season with a 53-81 loss to Boston College and a 37-93 loss to #11 Indiana. The Riverhawks started a three-game homestand with a 43-63 loss to Boston University and followed up with a 56-67 loss to Brown. UMass Lowell closed out the homestand with a 53-71 loss to UMass. The Riverhawks returned to the road to face Harvard and fell 66-86, then lost 48-62 to Fairleigh Dickinson. UMass Lowell defeated Central Connecticut State 60-47 behind Ivory Finley's 18 points. In the most recent game, the Riverhawks fell to Holy Cross 57-62.
 
Last Time Out   
Towson welcomed Memphis to SECU Arena for the first time in each other histories. Towson got off to a flying start, taking a 26-11 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Towson continued to build on its lead and gain a 22-point advantage late in the second quarter. Memphis cut the lead to single digits midway through the third quarter, but Towson held on to a five-point advantage. The teams went back and forth to open the fourth quarter, but Memphis tied the score at 64 halfway through. Memphis gained a three-point lead, but Towson countered with a 7-2 run to have a 71-69 lead with a minute remaining. Memphis tied the game at 71 apiece after a mid-range jumper. Towson had a chance to take the lead, but Patricia Anumgba had her layup blocked by Jada Wright. Memphis took a quick timeout to draw up a play. Memphis got a shot off, but Wright was able to tip-in the rebound just as the buzzer went off to win the game.
 
Next Up
 The Tigers will start CAA play on Thursday, Dec. 29th against Charleston at 7 p.m. in SECU Arena.