Towson splits a pair of games
By: Desmond Boyle, Staff Writer
File photo by Jordan Cope/ The Towerlight
Towson’s up-and-down weekend concluded Sunday, Nov. 26, with a tough 65-61 loss to Colgate at SECU Arena.
The Tigers (1-4) inability to get off to a fast start hurt the team once again versus the Raiders (3-3).
Towson struggled to move the ball and missed open shots. The team went just 1-5 when shooting from beyond the arc in the first half.
“Again, here today we started slowly,” Head Coach Diane Richardson said. “We as coaches need to work on getting these guys more aggressive and more ready to play early.”
The Tigers hung around in the second half thanks to the play of Etalyia Vogt. The sophomore led the attack at the half with eight points. Vogt was able to capitalize in transition, scoring a couple of quick layups.
However, poor perimeter shooting from Towson enabled Colgate to take a 31-25 lead into halftime.
A 9-2 stretch helped Towson take its first lead of the game midway through the third quarter. TU shot the ball consistently and tied the game at 46 going into the fourth quarter.
However, momentum shifted when TU sophomore forward Nukiya Mayo went down with a head injury.
“We obviously missed Nukiya when she wasn’t on the floor,” Richardson said. “[Colgate were laughing, and there’s no room for that in basketball. On the other hand, our girls didn’t stand up to that.”
Junior guard Danielle Durjan pulled the Tigers within two with a layup, but that’s as close as the Tigers got. Summer King buried two foul shots to seal the 65-61 win for the Raiders.
To open the week, Towson dismantled local rival UMBC Nov. 21 at SECU Arena by a final score of 95-64.
Durjan and Mayo each played a big role in helping Towson beat UMBC as Durjan had 21 points, while Mayo put up 22. Durjan’s five three pointers helped TU shoot an impressive 40 percent on three point attempts.
Defensively the Tigers physically overwhelmed the Retrievers and forced 15 steals. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead and never once trailed the one sided game.
Towson will look to replicate this performance when they take on Wagner Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. at SECU.
“Accountability,” Richardson said when asked what she wants to see from her team. “I want each player to ask themselves what they could be doing better to help us win.”