TOWSON, Md. (Interstat) — In a tense Coastal Athletic Association clash that saw 11 lead changes and neither team lead by more than seven points, the Towson Tigers edged the Stony Brook Seawolves 73-68 in women’s basketball Sunday at SECU Arena.

The victory avenged a January loss to Stony Brook and moved both teams to 15-12 overall on the season in a game defined by contrasting styles and a decisive final minute.

Stony Brook dominated the interior, outscoring Towson 46-26 in the paint and grabbing 15 offensive rebounds. However, Towson’s perimeter efficiency proved the difference. The Tigers connected on 9 of 21 three-point attempts, a 42.9% clip, while the Seawolves managed just 5 of 18 from beyond the arc. Towson also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 12 of 15 attempts compared to Stony Brook’s 7 of 8.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds with Towson clinging to a 71-68 lead. After a Stony Brook timeout, the Seawolves’ Diaka Berete missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game. Towson’s India Johnston secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and calmly sank both free throws with six seconds remaining to extend the lead to five and effectively seal the outcome. A final three-point attempt by Berete was off the mark as time expired.

Johnston, a guard from Bear, Delaware, was the catalyst for Towson, scoring a game-high 25 points in 33 minutes, including a crucial jump shot with 29 seconds left to give the Tigers a three-point cushion before her game-clinching free throws. She added three assists. Towson’s frontcourt provided vital support, with Kayla Morris of Harlem, New York, pulling down nine rebounds and Semaya Turner of Rockaway, New Jersey, contributing 10 points and six rebounds.

Stony Brook’s effort was led by a balanced attack. Guard Sandra Frau-Garcia of Pego, Spain, filled the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Diaka Berete of Toronto, Canada, led the Seawolves in scoring with 14 points, and Janay Brantley of Catskill, New York, added 13 points and four rebounds. Caitlin Frost of Les Coteaux, Canada, anchored the interior with eight rebounds.

The game was a defensive struggle early, with both teams committing double-digit turnovers. Stony Brook’s pressure generated 10 steals, while Towson had nine. The Tigers, however, posted a more efficient offensive rating of 105.6 points per 100 possessions compared to Stony Brook’s 98.8, overcoming the Seawolves’ advantages in second-chance opportunities and points in the paint.

The contest was a tight affair throughout, with Towson taking a narrow 31-28 lead into halftime. Stony Brook continued to battle, leveraging its inside game to stay within striking distance, but could never overtake the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Towson’s ability to answer every Seawolf run with a critical three-pointer or a timely defensive stop, culminating in Johnston’s composed finish at the line, provided the narrow margin of victory.

Both teams continue CAA play next Friday. Stony Brook returns home to face Hampton, while Towson hits the road to take on Campbell.