TOWSON, Md. – The William and Mary women's basketball team made a furious second half comeback, but could not overcome a 13-point halftime deficit, falling 75-69 to Towson on Thursday night. With the decision, William and Mary falls to 6-18, 3-9 in Colonial Athletic Association action, while the Tigers improve 12-14, 6-7 in CAA play.
Junior Jazmen Boone led four Tribe players in double-figures with 18 points. She added three rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Senior Kaitlyn Mathieu registered her 10th double-double of her career with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Marlena Tremba (14) and Latrice Hunter (10) were the final members of the Tribe in double-figures.
Towson opened the game with a 15-4 run to take an early 11-point lead by the same score. Tanisha McTiller scored the first six points of the game for Towson, opening the run. Latorri Hines-Allen and Markell Smith combined to score the next eight points, ending the run.
William and Mary followed with a 9-2 run, cutting Towson's lead to 17-14 with 13:10 to play in the first half. Mathieu started the run with a layup but Towson responded with a basket. Boone hit a layup that was followed by a triple from sophomore Brooke Stewart. The final basket of the run came on a jumper by Mathieu.
Leading by 10 points, Towson used a 5-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 15 points. A jumper by Hines-Allen matched with a 3-pointer by Dominique Johnson accounted for the run.
Towson held a 46-33 advantage at the break. Both teams shot the ball well from distance in the first half, but the Tigers buried three more 3-points. Towson shot 66.7-percent (6-of-9), while the Tribe shot 60-percent (3-of-5) from behind the arc.
William and Mary opened the second half on a 10-4 run to cut Towson's lead to six points. Tremba opened the half with five straight points for the Tribe. After a Tiger basket, Boone completed a traditional three-point play. After a Towson free throw, Boone hit a lay up, completing the run.
Trailing by six midway through the second half, the Green and Gold used a 7-0 run to take a one-point lead. A jumper by Mathieu and a pair of free throws by junior Kyla Kerstetter cut Towson's advantage to one. After a stop, a triple from Hunter gave William and Mary a 62-61 lead, its first lead of the game.
Towson closed the game on a 14-7 run, earning the 75-69 victory. Hines-Allen led all scorers with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson (14), McTiller (13), and Alliyah Berger (10) were all in double-figures.
The Tribe again shot the ball well, hitting on a 45-percent (25-of-55) clip. For the 16th time this season, William and Mary forced (14) then it committed (11). The Tribe also forced 10 steals, led by Hunter with three thefts.
The College ends its stretch of four of five games on the road with a trip to Delaware on Sunday, Feb. 23. Tip time between the Blue Hens and the Tribe is set for noon. William and Mary returns to Kaplan Arena on Thursday, Feb. 27 when they welcome Northeastern for a 7 p.m. tip.
