Murray exceeds 1,000 career points in Tigers W
By: Brooks Warren, Staff Writer
File Photo by: Brendan Felch/The Towerlight
Towson went 1-1 in their penultimate road trip of the season against Hofstra University and Northeastern University this past weekend. The Tigers (13-12 8-6 CAA) now sit five games back of Drexel for first place in the CAA.
In the second contest of the weekend, Towson dropped a 66-63 decision to Northeastern. Redshirt junior guard Kionna Jeter led the shorthanded with all scorers with 25 points, while senior forward Nukiya Mayo contributed 12 points and five rebounds. The senior forward played despite battling a fever, reportedly playing at about 65% of her usual powers.
“Just stay focused,” Jeter said. “Don’t worry about the calls, either we’re going to get them or not. We can only do what we can do.”
Old issues plagued the Tigers once again, allowing the Huskies to throw the first punch and getting out to a slow start in the first half trailing 13-0. In the second quarter Towson played catch-up, taking their first lead of the night off a Jeter layup capping a 9-2 run. Freshman guard Maggie Sharp played a pivotal role in the first half, scoring seven points to keep the Tigers on top.
The efforts were all for naught, however, as Northeastern ended the first half with a five-point lead. The Huskies took control and reeled off a 9-4 run to grow the deficit to eight points late in the third quarter. Mayo once again cut the lead to one early in the final frame with her layup, but Northeastern scored six straight points to keep Towson at bay.
The Tigers had another chance late to secure a win after a Jeter layup with four seconds left, but the Huskies hit a free throw with a second left to clinch the win.
“I think as a team we should feel good about today,” Murray said. “Yes we came up short but we adjusted with what we had. The whole (team) is battling sickness right now.”
The first game of the weekend was a 71-54 victory over Hofstra University. Senior redshirt guard Qierra Murray headlined the contest when she scored her 1000th career point. Murray became the third Towson player to accomplish the feat this season and the 19th overall after a 13 points, a career high 12 assists, and eight-rebound performance. She joins Mayo and Jeter on the exclusive list.
“Feels good, it’s been a long journey but everything was worth it,” Murray said. “And my teammates did a good job knocking down shots.”
The first half was tightly contested, neither team led by more than five points and were tied at 30-30 at halftime.The Tigers were able to build a double-digit lead in the second half after outscoring the Pride 21-11 in the third quarter. It all started with Mayo and her seven-point third quarter along with a 7-0 run to take an eight-point lead late in the quarter.
Hofstra got as close as seven in the fourth quarter, but Towson responded with an 12-3 run, staking out a 13-point lead after Murray knocked a 3-pointer down. The Tigers scored the final five points of the game to seal their victory.
“Just all-around good team effort,” Murray said. “My teammates were getting open and I was delivering.”
Towson returns home to SECU Arena against William and Mary on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
