The lights might have seemed a little brighter for junior guard Tyshee Towner in Friday’s season-opening 88-56 win against Tennessee State, but the junior college transfer still shined in her first game.
After scoring just nine points in the 98-33 exhibition win over Slippery Rock, Towner looked much more comfortable Friday; the junior college transfer from Wabash Valley College scored 18 points and collected six rebounds for the Hoosiers.
“It felt great being on the court,” Towner said. “I’m very comfortable. It feels like home, so go IU!”
Towner is primarily a defensive threat to opponents, IU Coach Teri Moren said. The 5-foot-9 guard showed she can be just as effective on the other end of the floor, splashing a pair of 3-pointers and effectively finishing in transition.
Following her graduation from Aurora East High School in Illinois, Towner chose to spend her first two collegiate years at Wabash Valley College. Last season, Towner averaged 17.1 points and 5.7 rebounds to pace the Lady Warriors to a 28-7 record and a junior college National Championship.
“One of the things that I love about Tyshee is her defense and intensity,” Moren said. “When you have a kid like her and Tyra Buss that can take turns at applying pressure on the ball, that helps your basketball team.”
Moren said Towner admitted to being a little nervous in anticipation of her first game at Assembly Hall last Sunday.
“We talked after the first game that she had that deer in the headlights look,” Moren said. “She even admitted to it when we watched film with her that week. Even though she’s played a ton of games in her career, there’s nothing like being in Assembly Hall for the first time in front of our fans.”
The Hoosiers and Tigers tipped off the first round of the Preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament at noon. Though the early start might have affected some of the returning Hoosiers, Towner said she will be new to everything this season.
“It’s different for me coming from a JUCO,” Towner said. “I’m just new to everything this year. I’m just trying to learn and go with the flow.”
Towner’s 11 first-half points helped IU to a 50-14 halftime lead, and despite being outscored in the final two quarters, the Hoosiers were able to handily take care of Tennessee State. The Tigers are coming off of a NCAA Tournament appearance but played their first game after losing three starters from last year’s team to graduation.
Moren said she believes Towner will only look more comfortable as she spends more time under the bright lights of Assembly Hall. Her next chance to shine will be Tuesday, when the Hoosiers will face the winner of Chattanooga and McNeese State.
“I think that we’ll definitely stay tuned to see who we will be playing,” sophomore forward Amanda Cahill said. “Whoever wins, we’ll have to scout for the next few days.”
