When: Sunday, January 1, 2023
Where: Daskalakis Athletics Center | Philadelphia, Pa.
Time: Sunday- 2 p.m.
Team Records: Towson (6-6, 0-1 CAA) vs. Drexel (9-3, 1-0 CAA)
Stream: FloHoops ($)
Series: Towson Trails Drexel 23-61
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team tip-offs 2023 with a CAA matchup against preseason favorite Drexel on Sunday afternoon.
Chasing Milestones
A couple of Tigers are close to achieving some impressive career milestones.
Skye Williams is 57 points away from 500 career points at Towson.
Anissa Rivera is 47 points away from totaling 1000 career points.
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas is nine assists from totaling 200 career assists.
The Sky is the Limit
Skye Williams has started the season on fire. Williams is shooting 52.3% from the floor this season to rank sixth in the CAA in field goal percentage. Williams has totaled seven games where she has finished with 50% or better. The graduate student from Indianapolis, Indiana is averaging a career-best 8.8 pts per game and playing in a career-high 27.3 minutes per game.
Leading the Way
Redshirt junior guard
Kylie Kornegay-Lucas leads the Tigers in points (15.9), rebounds (6.8), assists (4.2), blocks (1.4), steals (2.8) and minutes (31.6) this season. She ranks sixth in the CAA in scoring, tenth in rebounds, fourth in assists, second in steals, third in free throw percentage (86.8%) and fifth in blocks.
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 31st in the nation and leads the CAA in steals with 33. The redshirt junior averages 2.75 steals per game to be 31st in the NCAA and second in the conference in steals per game.
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 72-57 (.558) home record since SECU Arena was built, including a 32-18 (.640) record against non-conference opponents. Towson holds a 40-40 (.500) against CAA foes
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 Drexel
The Dragons boast a 9-3 overall record and a 1-0 CAA record. Drexel has the number one scoring defense (58.7), free throw percentage (77.6%), field goal percentage (47%) and three-point percentage (34.8%). Keishana Washington was voted the CAA Preseason Player of the Year and leads the country in points per game averaging 28.8. Drexel opened their campaign with an 84-58 victory against Rider, but dropped the following game 74-77 to La Salle. The Dragons won four straight games starting with a 66-61 win against UMES. In Drexel's 84-61 victory against Lehigh, Washington dropped 33 points and ten assists. The Dragons defeated Buffalo 53-35 and Longwood 74-61 to start their five-game road trip. Drexel fell to Saint Joseph's 49-69 and dropped the next game to Yale 58-60 in overtime on a buzzer-beater. The Dragons closed out the road trip with a 64-49 win against Dartmouth. The Dragons defeated Penn State 86-82 in overtime behind Washington's 42 points. Drexel closed out non-conference play with a 62-44 win, then started CAA play with a 71-47 victory against UNCW.
Last Time Out
Towson started CAA play with a Thursday night showdown against Charleston. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead, thanks to great defense holding the Cougars to nine points in the first half. Towson held Charleston to zero points in the second quarter behind four steals and three blocks. The Cougars were able to tie the score at 33 heading into the fourth quarter, behind five three-pointers. In the fourth quarter, the teams went back and forth exchanging baskets. The Tigers took a one-point lead with 2:49 left after
Alexia Nelson hit a triple. Jada Logan gave Charleston a two-point edge with 58 seconds remaining. Towson had two chances to take the lead but both shots came up short. Charleston sealed the win with a couple of free throws.
Next Up
The Tigers return to SECU Arena to face off against CAA newcomer Hampton on Sunday, Jan.8th at 2 p.m.
