The Towson women?s basketball team has been rewriting school history all season, but it was the same old story against James Madison on Sunday afternoon.
James Madison rallied from a halftime deficit to continue its dominance over the Tigers, 60-56, in front of 847 fans at Towson Center.
“A four-point ball game, a bucket away ? you are close throughout ? and one fell for them and it didn?t fall for us,” Towson coach Joe Mathews said. “I?m proud of my team?s effort, and I think we will bounce back.”
The Tigers (14-4, 6-1 Colonial Athletic Association) are just 1-20 all-time against the Dukes (12-6, 5-2), with their only win coming in 1984. The loss ends Towson?s 10-game winning streak ? its longest since becoming a Division I team in 1982.
The Tigers, who trailed by as many as six in the second half, rallied to tie the game, 56-56, with two minutes, five seconds left on a three-pointer by forward Omara Parker.
A free-throw by James Madison forward Tamera Young 27 seconds later, however, restored the Dukes? lead for good. After a missed layup by Towson guard Shanae Baker-Brice, Young made two free throws to extend the advantage to 59-56 with 25 seconds remaining.
Holly Mahan missed a game-tying three pointer on Towson?s next possession, and James Madison?s Nina Uqdah secured the victory with a free throw with nine seconds remaining.
“I did want the ball and there was a lot going through my head,” Mahan said. “I just wanted to get the win for my team.”
Towson scored seven of the game?s first nine points, and didn?t allow the Dukes to make a field goal until forward Lauren Jimenez?s put-back trimmed the lead to just 7-4 with 12:22 left in the half. The Tigers stretched the lead to as many as six, but led just 23-19 at intermission due to several turnovers and poor rebounding.
James Madison started the second half on an 8-2 run, taking a 27-25 lead nearly three minutes into the second half after a layup by forward Jennifer Brown. But Baker-Brice tied the game two possessions later and forward
Kandace Davis put the Tigers back in front, 29-27, with a layup.
The Dukes, however, took a 56-53 lead with 2:26 left after a three-pointer by Young. Young, the preseason CAA Player of the Year, shot just 9-of-23 from the floor, but scored a game-high 27 points and added 13 rebounds.
The Tigers were led by Mahan?s 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Davis added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“It?s a measuring stick,” Mathews said. “You need to find out where you are against upper-echelon teams in this league. I look forward to bouncing back and getting at it again on Thursday.”
