TOWSON, Md. — The final score doesn’t always reflect how the game went.
Case in point was William & Mary’s 76-59 loss to Towson on Saturday in the semifinals of the CAA women’s basketball tournament.
The Tribe had earned the fourth seed by going 12-6 in the regular season, tying a program record for conference victories. Top-seeded Towson was playing on its home court, and had won both regular-season matchups.
But with 6:04 left, the Tribe (18-13) trailed by just one after leading through the first three quarters. The Tigers (21-10) then went on a 6-0 run. W&M answered with a jumper from Bre Bellamy, but a three-point play, a 3-point shot and another three-point play sparked a 12-2 Towson run to make it 68-57 with 1:54 left.
“I am extraordinarily proud of this team,” said coach Erin Dickerson Davis, who set a record for victories by a first-year Tribe coach. “I told them that I have to find a word that’s bigger than proud because I don’t think proud quite sums it up.”
Sixth-year guards Riley Casey and Sydney Wagner had led the team all season. Wagner scored a game-high 30 points, 19 in the first half, but Riley was held to five, all free throws after going 0 for 13 from the field, including 0 for 3 on 3-pointers.
“Syd really carried us in scoring. Riley carried us in leadership. Bre carried us in energy,” Davis said. “We wouldn’t have even been in that predicament if it wasn’t for our seniors.”
When Wagner scored on a layup to give the Tribe a 32-19 lead with 1:27 left in the first half, she had as many points as Towson.
The Tigers closed the half on a 5-0 run and then outscored the Tribe 24-16 in the third quarter to tie the game at 48 entering the final 10 minutes. India Johnston, a freshman guard, opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Tigers ahead to stay.
A Wagner basket cut the lead to 53-52, but Johnston hit another 3 for a four-point lead. Another 3 by Wagner cut it to one point again before Towson pulled away with their two big runs.
“They do a great job of hitting those emotional 3s. It really stole the momentum when they did it,” Davis said. “A couple of those we were in their face.”
For Wagner, Riley and the program, it was a historical season with numerous individual and team records set. However, two things will have to wait at least another year: The program’s first conference tournament title (its only appearance in the title game came in 1993 and resulted in a loss to Old Dominion) and its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
That does nothing to diminish what was accomplished, especially after being picked seventh in the preseason poll, Wagner said.
“I’m super proud of the season and super proud of my teammates for making it this far,” she said. “Nobody thought we could do this.”
Bellamy, with 12 points, was the only other double-figure scorer for the Tribe behind Wagner.
Leading the way for the Tigers was Kornegay-Lucas with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
