TOWSON, Maryland -UNCW shot 59.2 percent from the floor and knocked down all 14 of its free-throw attempts to cruise to a 76-47 victory over Towson in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Thursday at the Towson Center.

The Seahawks improved to 21-6 overall and 13-3 in league play as they maintained a share of second place in the league standings. The Tigers, meanwhile, fell to 9-18 and 3-13.

Junior Kristen Hanzer led four UNCW players in double figures with a game-high 20 points while senior Brittany Blackwell added 15 and senior Martha White and freshman Alisha Andrews chipped in 13 points each. White grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as the Seahawks posted a 31-22 advantage on the glass while Andrews dished out a game-high nine assists.

Juniors Krystin Fields and Krystal Parnell tallied 12 points each and junior Deree Fooks finished with 11 for Towson, who shot 37.0 percent from the field for the contest and committed 23 turnovers.  

Leading 7-6 early in the first half, a three-pointer from the right corner by Freeman sparked a 26-6 run that spanned more than 10 minutes and gave the Seahawks a 29-10 cushion at 6:47 mark of the opening frame.

UNCW made 15 of its first 17 field goal attempts as it finished the first half knocking down 19-of-26 attempts from the floor to build a 42-19 advantage at the break.  The Seahawks also took advantage of 15 Towson miscues as it scored 17 of its 42 points on Tigers turnovers.

With the Seahawks holding a 42-19 advantage at the break, Towson scored eight of the first 10 points in the second half to cut the Seahawks advantage to 44-27, but UNCW responded with an 11-2 spurt to build a 55-29 cushion.

The Seahawks would use a 9-3 run later in the half to take its largest lead of the game, 74-41, before the Tigers scored six of the last eight points to determine the 29-point margin of victory.

The Seahawks cooled off from the floor in the second half, making 10-of-23 field goal attempts after intermission, but took their hot shooting to the free-throw line, knocking down all 13 attempts at the charity stripe in the frame to finish a perfect 14-for-14 from the line and establish a new school record for free-throw percentage.  

Both teams return to action Sunday with home contests. UNCW hosts George Mason and Towson entertains Drexel. Tip-off for both games is set for 2 p.m. The Seahawks will honor senior student-athletes Brittany Blackwell, Treasure Johnson and Martha White prior to the start of the contest.

GAME NOTES:

• UNCW improved to 11-7 all-time against Towson as it won its fourth straight against the Tigers. The victory also snapped a five-game road losing skid to the Tigers at the Towson Center.
• The Seahawks surpassed the 70-point plateau for the 12th time this season as it remained undefeated when doing so. UNCW also improved to 58-6 since the start of the 2000-01 season when scoring more than 70 points as it scored 70 or more points for the second time in three games.
• UNCW improved to 9-0 this season and 52-0 since the start of the 2002-03 season when holding an opponent to 50 points or less in a contest. The Seahawks held its third straight opponent below 50 points.
• The 29-point margin of victory matched the eight largest margin of victory for the Seahawks since the start of the 2000-01 season.
• The Seahawks established a new program mark for free-throw percentage, breaking the old mark of 11-for-11 set at Oklahoma State on Dec. 10, 2005.
• UNCW shot above 50 percent from the floor for the 10th time this season and made more than 40 percent of its field goal attempts for the 19th time this season. The Seahawks improved to 17-2 this season when they shooting above 40 percent from the floor.
• The Seahawks were limited to a season-low four steals as they failed to record double-figure steals for just the fifth time this season.
• UNCW improved to 16-1 this season when holding a lead at the half. The Seahawks also moved to 18-2 when leading by 10 points or more during a contest.
• The Seahawks held a 42-30 advantage in points in the paint, highlighted by a 32-12 advantage in the first half.
• UNCW led wire-to-wire for the second straight contest and the sixth time this season as Towson tied the score twice during the first 2:01 before the Seahawks went on their 26-6 run.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

1- Jessica Cohen

• Established new season high in points with six, eclipsing old mark of four set against Wofford on Nov. 24.

4 - Alisha Andrews

• Reached double figures for the 13th time this season and the third time in the past four games.
• Led team in assists for the 18th time this season and the 15th time in the past 18 games.

21- Kristen Hanzer

• Reached double figures in points for the 17th time this season and the 22nd time in her career. Scored in double figures for the fourth time in the past five games.
• Led team in scoring for the ninth time this season and the 10th time in her career. Team improved to 7-2 and 8-2 when Hanzer paces them in points.

42- Martha White

• Reached double figures in scoring for the 22nd time this season and the 45th time in her career as she extended her consecutive games in double figures streak to 16 games.
• Led team in rebounds for the ninth time this season and the 13th time in her career as the team moved to 9-0 and 10-3 when White guides them on the glass.

45 - Brittany Blackwell

• Reached double figures in points for the 24th time this season and the 98th time in her career. Has scored in double figures in each of the last 11 contests.