Towson Rallies Late, Secures First-Ever CAA Women's Basketball Title
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NEWARK, Del. (March 16, 2019) – Nukiya Mayo scored a game-high 20 points to lead No. 4 Towson in winning its first CAA women’s basketball title in program history with a 53-49 victory over No. 2 Drexel in the finals of the 2019 CAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
Towson (20-12) earns the CAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in what tied for the third-closest CAA title game in CAA history. The Tigers had not won a women’s basketball conference championship since capturing the 1984 East Coast Conference title.
Though Drexel led for over 31 minutes, the Tigers shot 62.5 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter to take a late lead and the conference crown. The turning point in the game came with 1:45 to play when Towson’s
Q. Murray stole a pass from the Drexel’s
Keishana Washington and converted the fast-break layup to cut Towson’s deficit to 46-45. After
Bailey Greenberg’s 3-point attempt drew iron,
Nukiya Mayo drained a jumper from the left elbow to give the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish.
Next time down the court,
Kionna Jeter hit a step-back jumper and after a Drexel turnover gave the ball back to Towson, Mayo knocked down two free throws to give Towson a five-point lead with just 11 seconds left. Drexel’s Aubree Brown scored a three-pointer to pull the Dragons back within two with two seconds to go, but. Mayo sealed the deal, hitting two free throws to close the game.
Towson recorded eight steals, led by Jeter’s three. The Tigers capitalized on the takeaways, recording 14 fast-break points. Jeter finished the game with 10 points, while Maia Lee pulled down eight rebounds.
After averaging 16.0 points across the three games, Mayo was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Jeter joined her teammate on the team.
Drexel, which was making its second consecutive appearance in the CAA Championship game, was led in scoring by Greenberg, with the CAA Player of the Year finishing with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Niki Metzel added 10 points for the Dragons. Drexel, which fell to 24-8, will await its postseason destination on Monday.
Towson will learn its first-ever NCAA Tournament destination during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Selection Show, which will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on Monday.
All-Tournament Team
Boogie Brozoski, Hofstra
Jess Genco, Northeastern
Bailey Greenberg, Drexel
Kionna Jeter, Towson
Nukiya Mayo, Towson*
Niki Metzel, Drexel
*Most Outstanding Player