TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team hosted Columbia in the final non-conference game of the season on Sunday afternoon at TU Arena. The Lions (9-4) built a 13-point lead in the first quarter and outlasted the Tigers (2-9), 73-53.
 
Anasia Staton led the Tigers with a career-high 19 points in her first game of the season, adding two blocks and three steals. Khady Leye had nine points and six boards.
 
Records:

• Towson (2-9, 0-0 CAA)
• Columbia (9-4, 0-0 Ivy League)

 
Key Stats

• Columbia won the rebounding battle 60 to 34.
• Columbia scored 42 points in the paint to Towson's 20.
• The Lions generated 26 points off turnovers to the Tiger's eight.

 
How it Happened

• Following an early 6-2 Columbia lead to begin the game, the Tigers sored six-straight to take a two-point lead.
• The Lions closed the quarter on a 17-2 run to take a 23-10 lead into the first break.
• Staton hit the first bucket of the second quarter 12 seconds into the period.
• The Tigers won the second quarter, scoring 12 and holding the Lions to nine.
• The high-powered offense returned on both sides in the third quarter as the teams scored a combined 39 points out of the halftime break, the game-high for a period.
• Five Tigers scored in the third: Deja Bristol (4), Shariah Baynes (3), Leye (5) and Staton (5).
• Columbia held a 54-39 lead heading into the final ten minutes of regulation.
• The Lions opened the fourth quarter on a 13-5 run through the first 6:15 in the period.
• The Tigers scored nine of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 16 at 69-53.
• Columbia hit a pair of layups in the closing minutes to defeat the Tigers, 73-53.

 
Up Next
The Tigers open Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play vs. Charleston to begin the new year on Friday at 7 p.m. at TD Arena in Charleson, S.C.