TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team hosted Monmouth in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play at TU Arena on Friday afternoon. After trailing by four at the half, the Tigers tied the game heading into the final quarter of play. It was tight down the stretch, with Monmouth only able to extend their lead past three with 2:35 remaining in the game. Down four, Leye hit a lob in the paint and went to the free throw line. After intentionally missing the free throw, Semaya Turner secured the offensive rebound but was unable to force overtime to fall, 56-54.
 
The Tigers finished with three players in double-digits: Anasia Staton (13), India Johnston (11) and Khady Leye (11). Leye added a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Records:

• Towson (3-11, 1-2 CAA)
• Monmouth (7-7, 2-1 CAA)

 
Key Stats

• Monmouth had 42 points in the paint to Towson's 28.
• The Hawks shot 60.0% (6-10) from the field in the final quarter to the Tigers' 25.0% (5-20) field goal percentage.
• Monmouth held advantages in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage.

 
How it Happened

• Monmouth started the game on a 9-2 run through the first 4:15 of the first quarter.
• Semaya Turner (2) and Anasia Staton (4) finished the quarter with six points for the Tigers, making the score of 14-8 in favor of the Hawks after the first ten minutes of play.
• Following an Exanor layup to begin the second quarter for the Hawks, the Tigers strung together six-straight points, with two from Kayla Morris and four from India Johnston on a four-point play to cut the deficit to two.
• Over the next five-plus minutes, Monmouth extended its lead to 26-18 with 1:53 remaining in the half.
• Towson closed the half with a pair of layups from Khady Leye and Deja Bristol to cut the deficit to 26-22 at the break.
• Monmouth's Kranbuhl was a force in the paint in the first four minutes of the third quarter, scoring eight of Monmouth's 10 through the first 3:52. Leye had four and Turner had two for the Tigers in that stretch.
• Layups from Turner, Johnston and Morris all in a one-minute stretch pulled the Black & Gold within four at 38-34.
• Towson closed the quarter on a 7-2 run, with four from Staton and three from Shariah Baynes, to tie the game at 41 heading into the final quarter.
• Back-and-forth scoring possessions ensued for both teams, with the Hawks unable to extend a lead to more than three in the final period until a made free throw from Rodriguez with 2:35 on the clock following a Farrelly three, which made it a 55-51 game.
• After an Exanor made free throw with 27 second left, Leye was fouled on the following possession and made one of two, cutting the Monmouth edge back to four.
• Staton lobbed it to Leye in the paint of an inbound pass with less than five seconds left, who hit the shot plus the foul.
• Down two with 2.9 seconds remaining, Leye missed the free throw intentionally looking to secure an offensive rebound.
• Turner was unable to connect in the final seconds off the offensive rebound and the Tigers fell, 56-54.

 
Up Next
The Tigers will face North Carolina A&T in the second of a three-game homestand on Sunday at 2 p.m.