TOWSON, Maryland – Junior guard
Shatia Cole (Myrtle Beach H.S./Myrtle Beach, S.C.) hit the game-winning jumper with 3.1 seconds remaining in overtime as UNCW (11-15, 7-8) earned a season sweep over Towson University (10-18, 6-10) by edging the Tigers, 73-71, at SECU Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Led by Cole, the Seahawks claimed their third win in the last four games while handing Towson its fourth consecutive loss as the Tigers celebrated Senior Day.
The Tigers scored 7 of the first 12 points to begin the extra session before UNCW tallied five consecutive points, including four from senior guard
Kelva Atkins (Granville Central H.S./Stem, N.C.), to take a 68-65 lead with 1:52 remaining.
The teams traded baskets before a pair of free throws by Towson senior forward
LaTorri Hines-Allen (Montclair H.S./Montclair, N.J.) trimmed the Tigers' deficit to 70-69 with 1:18 left.
After Cole made one of two free throws with 19 seconds remaining, Towson tied the game at 71-71 on a lay-up by senior guard
Ciara Webb (Patterson H.S./Baltimore, Md.). The teams exchanged timeouts before Cole made the game-winning field goal with a 10-foot jumper in the lane with 3.1 seconds remaining.
After the Tigers built a 36-30 advantage just eight seconds into the second half, the Seahawks scored nine consecutive points to take a 39-36 lead with 16:27 left in regulation. Atkins and Mobley each scored four points during the spurt.
The teams battled to tie the score twice over the next four minutes before UNCW scored six of the next eight points to reclaim a 51-47 edge with six minutes remaining.
The Tigers used a 9-3 spurt to gain a 56-54 edge with 1:02 remaining in the second half on a running lay-up by Hines-Allen. But, sophomore guard
Naqaiyyah Teague (Malcolm X. Shabazz H.S./Newark, N.J.) tied the game at 56-56 with a lay-up with 52.7 seconds remaining.
After Hines-Allen gave Towson a 58-56 lead with a lay-up with 23.6 seconds left, Cole forced the extra session with a running jumper with 5.4 seconds remaining.
The Tigers led for a majority of the first half before UNCW put together a 11-3 run, including seven points from Cole, to claim a 30-29 advantage with 1:08 remaining.
But, Towson scored the final five points of the opening stanza to take a 34-30 lead into the intermission.
Cole, who scored a career-high 25 points in the Seahawks' win over Towson at Trask Coliseum on Jan. 25, was one of four UNCW players to score in double figures. Atkins contributed 17 points while Mobley added 15 points. Sophomore forward
Ryan Flowers (Millbrook H.S./Hickory, N.C.) tallied 10 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for her sixth "double double" of the season.
Hines-Allen, the third-leading scorer in the CAA, led Towson by scoring 16 points with 15 rebounds for her CAA-leading 13th "double double" of the season. Webb added 13 points for the Tigers, who had five players score in double figures.
UNCW tallied a season-high 54 rebounds as the Seahawks held a 54-41 advantage on the glass over the Tigers. Â
The Seahawks return to Trask Coliseum on Thursday evening to host Delaware in their penultimate home game of the regular season. Opening tip-off between the Seahawks and the Blue Hens is slated for 7:00 p.m.
