TOWSON, Maryland - UNCW shot 50.9 percent from the floor and had four players reach double figures as it cruised past Towson, 76-61, in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Sunday at the Towson Center.

The Seahawks improved to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in league play as it extended its season-best winning streak to five games while the Tigers dropped to 12-8 and 3-6 as it suffered its fourth loss in the last five outings.

Sophomore Abria Trice was 6-of-7 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line to match her career high with 20 points as UNCW knocked down 28 of its 55 field goal attempts and was 15-of-18 from the free-throw line.

Junior Karneshia Garrett scored 13 points, sophomore Alisha Andrews pitched in 11 and junior Chelsea McGowen added 10 to round out the Seahawks quartet of double figure scorers. Junior Ayoola Weaver grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and Garrett added eight caroms as the Seahawks held a 34-31 advantage on the glass.

Seniors Krystin Fields and Deree Fooks scored 14 points apiece to lead Towson. Sophomore Tanisha McTiller joined the duo in double figures with 10 points and added a team-best seven rebounds.

Towson raced out to an early 8-2 advantage and used an 11-2 spurt midway through the opening frame to build a 25-18 lead when a three-pointer by junior Tawanna Lee at the 7:01 mark of the frame sparked an 18-4 run that lasted to the halftime buzzer and gave the Seahawks a 36-29 advantage. Five different players scored for UNCW during the stretch, highlighted by a trio of baskets from Garrett.

The Seahawks continued their strong play early in the second half, opening the frame on a 7-2 spurt to take its first double-figure lead of the game, 43-31.

Towson scored five of the next seven points to end the run and cut the Seahawks advantage to single digits, 45-36, before a 7-2 stretch restored UNCW's double-figure cushion, 52-38, with 13:18 on the clock.   

McGowen and Trice would team up later in the frame to score all 10 of the Seahawks points during a 10-2 outburst that gave UNCW its largest lead of the game, 66-46.

The Tigers countered the Seahawks spurt with an 11-4 run that trimmed the lead to 70-57, but UNCW scored six of the final 10 points of the contest to determine the 15-point margin.

Both teams return to action Thursday with 7 p.m. CAA contests. UNCW hosts No. 15 Delaware while Towson entertains VCU.

GAME NOTES

• UNCW picked up its fifth straight victory against Towson to extend its lead in the all-time series to 12-7. The Seahawks also won their second straight at the Towson Center to improve to 3-5 all-time in the 5,000-seat venue.
• The Seahawks surpassed the 70-point plateau for the sixth time this season and the second time in three games. UNCW improved to 6-0 this season and 19-1 under Second-Year Head Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke when doing so.
• UNCW shot above 40 percent from the floor for the second straight contest and the 11th time this season. The Seahawks improved to 10-1 in 2011-12 and 28-4 under Cooper-Dyke when making more than 40 percent of its field goal attempts.
• The Seahawks 83.3 percent conversion rate at the free-throw line marked a season high for the UNCW at the charity stripe. The previous best was an 8-for-10 effort in its win at Ohio on Nov. 30.
• UNCW recorded double-figure assists for the 19th time this season as it finished with 18 helpers against the Tigers. Six different players recorded an assist during the contest, highlighted by a game-high six assists from sophomore Alisha Andrews.
• The Seahawks failed to reach double-figure steals for the sixth time this season as it tallied just seven thefts versus the Tigers. UNCW has not reached double figures in steals in each of the last three contests.
• UNCW held a commanding 29-9 advantage in points off the bench as three players - juniors Karneshia Garrett, Chelsea McGowen and Jessica Freeman - combined to score all 29 bench points.
• The Seahawks improved to 8-1 this season and 26-4 under Cooper-Dyke when holding a lead at halftime.
• UNCW improved to 6-0 this season and 19-3 under Cooper-Dyke when four or more players score in double figures.
• The Seahawks out-rebounded its opponent for just the sixth time this season and the second time in three games. The three-board difference matched the smallest positive rebounding differential for UNCW this season, equaling the difference in the Washington State contest (40-37).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

4 - Alisha Andrews

• Moved into sole possession of ninth place on the program's all-time assists chart (263). Surpassed former standout Chandra Watkins during the contest.
• Reached double figures in points for the 15th time this season and the 34th time in her career.
• Led team in assists for the 13th time this season and the 37th time in her career.

10 - Abria Trice

• Reached double figures in points for the seventh time this season.
• Reached the 20-point plateau for the second time this season.
• Matched her career high in points, set against Old Dominion on Jan. 22.
• Led team in points for the fourth time this season.

32 - Ayoola Weaver

• Led team in rebounding for the sixth time this season.

40 - Karneshia Garrett

• Reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time this season.

42 - Chelsea McGowen

• Reached double figures for the second time this season.
• Matched career high in points, equaling total set against Charlotte on Dec. 7.