BALTIMORE, Md. – The Norfolk State women's basketball team fell to 5-7 after suffering a 61-58 loss to Towson on Thursday night at the SECU Arena. Freshman forward De'Janaire Deas' 3-pointer from the left corner was no good just as the horn sounded, securing the comeback victory for the Tigers (7-4).

Senior guard Kiara Phillips led the Spartans with 15 points. She nailed two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Spartans tried to hold off Towson.

Both teams started the game cold, going a combined 5-of-27 in the first quarter. Norfolk State led 9-6 after shooting 3-of-13 from the floor (23.1 percent), while Towson was 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from the floor in the opening period.

The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with three lead-changes and four ties, despite both teams' continued struggles from the floor. However, Towson was 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the free-throw line in the period, which allowed the Tigers to take a 22-19 halftime lead.

Both teams were much better in the second half.

Norfolk State shot 12-of-28 in the half, including 5-of-11 in the third quarter. The Spartans were 11-of-15 from the free-throw line in the period as well and led 41-35 heading to the final stanza. In the fourth, they utilized an early 8-2 run to grab their largest lead at 49-39 when Dominique Harper made a layup with 7:47 left in the game. Phillips hit two 3-pointers during the run.

Towson would make a 14-4 run of its own over the next four and a half minutes. Sianni Martin made two free throws with 3:11 to tie the game at 53 apiece. The Spartans held two two-point leads over the next two minutes.

However, Martin drained a 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:07 left in regulation, which gave Towson its first lead (58-57) since the 5:13 mark of the third quarter. 

Raven Bankston fouled Phillips with 40 seconds left and Phillips made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe for the 10^th tie of the game, at 58-all. Martin made the go-ahead layup with 10 seconds left and Harper missed a layup at the other end with five seconds left. 

Raine Bankston grabbed the rebound and was fouled. She strolled to the line and made the first of two free throws.

After a Spartan timeout, the ball was advanced to their offensive zone. Deas had a clean look at the basket but was unable to cash in, sending NSU to its second straight disheartening loss. The Spartans also saw a late lead slip away in a loss at UNC Greensboro on Dec. 21.

Despite losses in the last two games, the Spartans have won five games before January for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Ironically, that Spartans team recorded their fifth win of the season exactly three years ago to the day, with a 56-43 victory over Maryland-Baltimore County.

Harper joined Phillips in double-figures, with 12 points. Harper and Phillips recorded three steals each.

Towson went 18-of-52 (34.6 percent) from the field, while Norfolk State went 19-of-58 (32.8 percent). The Spartans allowed the Tigers to make just one of their 13 attempts from behind the 3-point line. Norfolk State was 4-of-16, with Phillips making all four.

Norfolk State outrebounded Towson 37-34. Khalilah Ali led the Spartans with eight, Kayla Roberts added seven and Deas recorded a career-high seven rebounds.

The Spartans turned 22 Tigers turnovers into 22 points, while Towson countered with 13 points off 24 NSU turnovers.

The Spartans have five days off before returning to Baltimore on Jan. 4 to take on Morgan State in the MEAC conference opener for both teams. Tip-off is at 5 p.m.