TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University women's basketball team hosted Monmouth on Friday evening in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play.
 
Monmouth (11-5, 4-1 CAA) used a strong defensive effort to take a 28-24 lead into the halftime break. Towson (10-6, 3-1 CAA) challenged in the second half, reclaiming the lead multiple times. The Hawks hit their first three of the game in the closing minutes to take a one-point lead. After the Hawks made two free throws to extend the lead to three, the Tigers missed a contested three as time expired to fall 56-53.
 
Key Stats

• Monmouth scored 38 points in the paint to Towson's 22.
• The Hawks shot 36.2% (21-58) from the field. The Tigers shot 25.4% from the field (16-63).

 
How it Happened

• The Tigers were held scoreless from the field in the first quarter. Despite that, they only trailed 15-8 after going 8-8 from the free throw line in the period. Thalia Shepard led the Tigers with four in the first.
• Made layups from Hannah Dereje and Tilda Sjökvist in the opening minutes of the second quarter pulled Towson within three.
• Up two with just over four minutes left in the half, Monmouth's Gamble and Dibula went on a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 24-16.
• Gamble extended the lead to nine on a pair of free throws with 1:45 remaining in the half.
• India Johnston scored the Tigers' final seven points of the half as they closed the half on a 7-2 run, giving the Hawks a 28-24 halftime lead.
• Monmouth went on a 6-2 run through the opening four-plus minutes of the second half.
• The Tigers followed that with a 9-0 run of their own, giving them a 35-34 lead. Zoli Khalil scored five points in the run while Dereje had four.
• Semaya Turner and Johnston each had four points in the final minutes of the third quarter, tying the game at 43 on Johnston's made jumper with nine seconds left.
• Turner scored the Tigers' first three points of the fourth quarter, putting the Black & Gold up three with 7:20 left in regulation.
• After the Hawks reclaimed the lead with six minutes remaining, Viki Matulevicius laid one up off the glass to retake the lead at 48-47.
• The teams traded a one-point lead on the next three consecutive possessions before Turner hit a corner three with 3:19 left in regulation to push the lead to two at 53-51.
• Andrews hit Monmouth's first three of the game with 3:00 minutes to go to put the Hawks back up by one.
• The Hawks hit two free throws on two trips to the line in the closing minutes to go up three.
• The Tigers forced a jump ball in the closing seconds to get one last attempt to tie the game.
• Khalil missed a contested jumper as time expired to give the Hawks a 56-53 win.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Johnston finished with 15 points, two shy of reaching 1,000 in her career.
• Turner posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

 
Next Game
The Tigers will make their second trip to Long Island in two weeks to face Stony Brook on Sunday at 12 p.m.