University of Missouri
Towson
Women Squeeze Out 57-56 Win Over Towson
11/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2005
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) sank a pair of free throws with 14.3 seconds to secure a 57-56 win over Towson in the opening game of the Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday afternoon at Petersen Events Center. The charity tosses were the last two of a game-high 22 for Bond, who added five assists, a game-high four steals and two blocks.
Junior forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS) had a game-high 11 rebounds and four blocks to go with four points, and senior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) had nine points, five assists, five blocks and four rebounds.
Kacy O'Brien had 16 points to lead Towson (1-1).
The two teams struggled to find energy to start the game off well, combining to miss 10 of their first 14 shots. Towson took a 6-4 lead through the first media timeout. Kelly Robinson scored TU's next three baskets, all inside, and a Lashay Rose 3-pointer gave Towson a 15-6 lead to cap a 9-2 run and prompt a Mizzou timeout.
Turnovers plagued Mizzou (3-2) in the middle of the first half, as the Tigers had 12 in the first 16 minutes of the game. Towson converted them into 11 points in pushing the lead to 23-14 with 5:29 left. Mizzou scored three of the half's final five baskets, including a 3-pointer junior forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS), to go into the locker room down just six at 27-21.
Mizzou came out of the locker room with much more energy than their counterparts from Baltimore, and after forcing a TU turnover and getting an opening basket from junior forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State), Towson called timeout just 21 seconds into the half. Mizzou forced a shot-clock violation on Towson's next possession, and continued a 15-2 run to take a 36-29 lead with 14:09 left. Mizzou's defense played a significant role in the comeback, forcing several Towson turnovers.
Towson fought back, though, and forced a 43-all tie on a Kelly O'Brien slip to the block for a layup with 7:09 left. O'Brien then forced a tie at 48-all on a pair of free throws before Bond took a feed from N'Garsanet for a layup. The next time down, Savant knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead to five with 3:18 to play.
Rose hit a 3-pointer of her own to bring Towson within one (55-54) with 24.3 seconds left, but Bond pushed the lead to three with her free throws. Towson missed a last-second 3-point attempt, which was rebounded for a basket with 0.8 seconds left.
"We were ugly all afternoon, and couldn't get into a groove. We have to feel very fortunate to come out with a win," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "Once again, LaToya Bond made all the plays in the game. She drove to the basket, she hit shots, and she found open people."
The Tigers complete the Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Tournament on Sunday at 11 a.m. CST (noon EST) against the host Panthers, who play Towson on Saturday. Mizzou's next home games are next weekend (Dec. 2-3) in the State Farm Tiger Classic. Both of Missouri's games will tip at 7 p.m., and tickets are available by visiting the Mizzou Arena Box Office, calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in mid-Missouri) or going online to www.mutigers.com.
NOTES: Freshman guard Alyssa Hollins (Mesquite, Texas / Horn HS) sank her first collegiate 3-pointer with 4:54 left in the first half ... Mizzou broke the Petersen Events Center record with 11 blocks, bettering the 10 Pitt had vs. Notre Dame last year ... N'Garsanet was a block away from tying the arena's individual record.
