When: Sunday, January 8, 2023
Where: SECU Arena | Towson, Md.
Time: Sunday- 2 p.m.
Team Records: Towson (6-7, 0-2 CAA) vs. Hampton (5-7, 2-0 CAA)
Stream: FloHoops ($)
Series: Towson Leads Hampton 1-0                                                                                                                                       

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team continues CAA play with a Sunday afternoon matchup against newcomers the Hampton Lady Pirates.
 
Chasing Milestones
A couple of Tigers are close to achieving some impressive career milestones. Skye Williams is 47 points away from 500 career points at Towson. Anissa Rivera is 36 points away from totaling 1000 career points. Kylie Kornegay-Lucas is three assists from totaling 200 career assists.
 
The Sky is the Limit
Skye Williams has started the season on fire. Williams is shooting 52.2% from the floor this season to rank sixth in the CAA in field goal percentage. Williams has totaled eight games where she has finished with 50% or better. The graduate student from Indianapolis, Indiana is averaging a career-best 8.9 pts per game and playing in a career-high 27.2 minutes per game.
 
Leading the Way
Redshirt junior guard Kylie Kornegay-Lucas leads the Tigers in points (16.5), assists (4.3), blocks (1.3), steals (2.8) and minutes (31.7) this season. She ranks fourth in the CAA in scoring, 12th in rebounds, second in assists, second in steals, first in free throw percentage (88.1%) and sixth in blocks. The guard from Camden, Delaware has scored double figures and has recorded at least one steal in every game this season.
 
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 36th in the nation and ranks second in the CAA in steals with 36. The redshirt junior averages 2.77 steals per game to be 26th 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. This will be the first meeting between Hampton and Towson in the CAA.
 
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 Hampton
The Lady Pirates bring in a 5-7 overall record with a 2-0 record in conference. Hampton brings in the number two scoring defense in the CAA only giving up 61.73 points per game. The Lady Pirates force 12.45 steals a game to lead the CAA and rank ninth in the nation, who are led by Victoria Mason who averages 3.45 a game to lead the CAA. Hampton opened its 2023 campaign with a 110-26 win versus Mid-Atlantic Christian University, then followed up with a 67-48 win against Delaware State. The Lady Pirates started a six-game road trip and dropped the first game 48-79 to Liberty. The next game was an overtime loss to Richmond 65-68 behind Camryn Hill's 25 points. Hampton squared off against the defending National Champions South Carolina and fell 38-85. The Lady Pirates faced off against Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay and lost 56-65. Hampton snapped it losing streak with a 66-57 win against Saint Peter's. The Lady Pirates battled against Rutgers but fell 68-76. Hampton returned home to face James Madison and gave up two late buckets to fall 57-52. In the final non-conference game, Hampton lost 64-60 on a last-second jumper to East Carolina. The Lady Pirates started CAA play with a 57-54 victory over Elon. On Friday, Hampton defeated Charleston 56-50 to remain perfect in CAA play.
 
Last Time Out   
The Tigers met the Drexel Dragons on New Year's Day. Towson had an early lead behind great three-point shooting. The Tigers trailed by three after the first quarter but soon tied the score at 27 after back-to-back threes by Anissa Rivera and Alexia Nelson. Drexel responded with an 11-2 run, but Towson only trailed by six after a couple of layups. Towson came out firing to start the third quarter cutting the deficit to one. The team continued to trade baskets until Towson took a one-point lead, but the Dragons regained the lead and never let up. Drexel maintained a steady lead for most of the fourth quarter as the Tigers fell 67-75. Kylie Kornegay-Lucas led all scorers with 23 points, six rebounds and three steals.
 
Next Up
The Tigers wrap up their home spell with a Friday night showdown versus William & Mary at 7 p.m.