Matthew Hazlett/ The Towerlight

The Tigers’ lack of offensive efficiency in the first half proved too much to overcome in their loss at home to Virginia Commonwealth Thursday, 66-59.

Offensive struggles plagued Towson (12-9, 3-7 Colonial Athletic Association) through much of the first half. Poor shooting and 12 turnovers cost Towson their confidence and substance, and helped VCU (13-8, 6-4 CAA) cruise with a comfortable lead around ten points in the opening 20 minutes.

This continued throughout the beginning of the second half, before something sparked their enthusiasm. The team cut their turnovers to 5 in the second half, and succeeded consistently in scoring under the basket.

However, a couple of late turnovers by Deree Fooks and Krystal Parnell sealed the defeat. The first half’s uninspired performance proved to be the difference.

“Too many mistakes. Too many blown opportunities. Too many missed layup opportunities,” Towson Head Coach Joe Mathews said. “I thought the kids fought hard in the second half. They battled back a little bit to get themselves in a position. But, too many mistakes put us in a position where we just couldn’t catch up.”

Fooks led the way during the second half run, scoring 14 for the game, with 10 coming in the second half.  Krystin Fields was another offensive leader during the rally with 13 points.

The team’s top scorer, Tanisha McTilller, struggled for the second straight game from the field, shooting just 2-11, but still converted 6-6 from the free throw line and picked up 7 rebounds.

Despite being ruled out for the season by Mathews after Sunday’s game, forward Nyree Williams suited up in the game sporting a sizable cast on her broken left hand.

The sophomore looked timid throughout most of the game, but began settling in during the second half. Despite not scoring any points, Williams secured two rebounds and had four blocked shots.

“It’s mostly her decision,” Mathews said of Williams’ injury. “She’s been cleared by the doctors to play. It’s a pain tolerance, day-to-day situation. We have to see how comfortable she is.”

Mathews continued his recent trend of giving extended looks to freshman. Guard Ciara Webb created havoc for the Rams at times with her aggressiveness, tipping 4 passes, coming up with one steal, 3 assists and 5 points with a 3-pointer.

“As a freshman, I just feel like when I do get time, I’m going to give it my 100 percent, all the time,” Webb said. “I owe it to the seniors. When I get in, I have to go in for them, and I just have to make it more intense.”

Webb’s performance earned her a spot on the floor during the crucial final two minutes of the game.

“She’s earned it,” Mathews said. “There’s a different intensity when she’s on the floor – a different energy. I fully plan on playing [Webb] more.”

The loss is Towson’s fifth of their last six games, their first within 10 points.

“I think it all boils down to the intensity throughout, the confidence to work through things, and to play smart,” Mathews said. “You have to play hard and smart. Any time you don’t play hard, you’re going to get beat, and any time you don’t play smart you’re going to get beat.”

Towson, which sits in ninth place in the CAA, has failed to beat a team who currently sits higher in the standings, since their conference opener against James Madison on Dec. 4.

“There’s time remaining, but it’s running out,” Mathews said. “This was the first game of the second half of the season. Half the CAA season is through, and there’s still a lot to be determined, and a lot of games to be won. We have to play with that urgency.”

The Tigers are back in action at the Towson Center against last-place Georgia State Sunday at 2 p.m. Towson won the last meeting between the two teams, 56-52 on January 22.