Sophomore Jill McGowan shot 6-for-11 from the floor and scored a career-high 17 points as Towson opened its season with a 74-51 nonconference victory over Penn (0-2) last night at the Towson Center.

McGowan was one of four Tigers to score in double figures as Towson broke open a close game early in the second half.

McGowan hit a pair of three-pointers in the final minutes of the first half, pacing a 12-4 run that ended with a 32-27 Tigers lead.

Towson opened the second half with a 19-5 run -- led by Mylisa Pilione, who scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half -- to take a 51-32 lead with 13: 48 remaining.

American 70, UMBC 57: The Eagles' Kate Miller scored 22 points and Jina Lewis added 15 to hand the visiting Retrievers a loss in their season opener.

American took a 31-26 halftime lead on 39 percent shooting, then pulled away in the second half.

Jami Lange finished with 19 points, the only double-digit scorer for the Retrievers, and Monica Logan pulled down 16 rebounds.

Kim Gombola added 10 points for American (3-0).

Pub Date: 11/19/98