STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by frigid shooting, Stony Brook used a decisive third-quarter run and a near triple-double from guard Sandra Frau-Garcia to pull away from Towson for a 55-43 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at Island Federal Credit Union Arena.

The contest, a rematch of which is scheduled for Feb. 22 at Towson, saw both teams combine to shoot just 27.9% from the floor. The Tigers’ offensive woes were particularly acute, as they managed only 16 field goals on 59 attempts, including a dismal 2-for-23 performance from three-point range. Their 43 points represented a season low.

Stony Brook improved to 10-9 overall, while Towson fell to 10-7.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived late in the third quarter. Leading 33-31 after a layup from Towson’s Kayla Morris, the Seawolves clamped down defensively. They held the Tigers without a field goal for the final 7:19 of the period, embarking on a 9-2 run to close the quarter. The surge was capped by a three-pointer from Nal’la Bennett, assisted by Ebere Egbirika, with 2:13 left, giving Stony Brook a 40-33 advantage heading into the final frame.

Towson never recovered from that drought. The Tigers opened the fourth quarter missing their first eight shot attempts, allowing Stony Brook to methodically extend its lead. A layup from Johanna Potter, assisted by Frau-Garcia, with 6:16 remaining pushed the Seawolves’ lead to 46-37, and Towson could not draw closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Frau-Garcia, a 5-foot-7 guard from Pego, Spain, orchestrated the Stony Brook offense and controlled the glass, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes. Her all-around performance continued a strong stretch of play, following recent outings of 13 points and six assists against Hofstra and 12 points, five rebounds and eight assists against North Carolina A&T.

Caitlin Frost of Les Coteaux, Canada, added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Seawolves, while Bennett, from Sicklerville, New Jersey, chipped in 12 points. Chloe Oliver grabbed 10 rebounds.

Towson was led by Semaya Turner’s game-high 12 rebounds, though she was limited to three points. Hannah Dereje contributed eight points and five rebounds off the bench, and Zoli Khalil also scored eight points.

The Tigers’ defense created opportunities, forcing 17 Stony Brook turnovers and converting them into 13 points, while committing only nine turnovers themselves. They also won the battle on the offensive glass, 13-10. However, their inability to convert those extra possessions, coupled with the profound shooting struggles, proved insurmountable.

Stony Brook, which entered the game with a 63.7% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, was more efficient despite its own shooting challenges. The Seawolves connected on 6 of 16 three-point attempts and made 15 of 18 free throws, compared to Towson’s 9-for-14 showing at the line.

The first half was a low-scoring affair, with Stony Brook taking a 31-25 lead into halftime. The Tigers stayed close early by capitalizing on Seawolves turnovers, but a three-pointer from Diaka Berete at the second-quarter buzzer provided Stony Brook with momentum it would not relinquish.

Both teams return to conference play Friday. Stony Brook travels to face Drexel, while Towson hosts Hofstra.