Dec. 4, 2004
Final Stats
PRINCESS ANNE, MD - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team opened its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule with a 58-56 victory over the Delaware State University Hornets.
The Hawks (2-5 overall, 1-0 MEAC) jumped out to an early lead for the second straight game behind the solid long distance shooting of junior Toni Kennedy (Baltimore, MD/Grayson Country College). In the first five minutes Kennedy, who scored 17 first half points in the Hawks victory over Winthrop, dropped in two shots from beyond the arc to guide UMES to a 10-7 lead. However, Delaware State (1-3, 0-1) answered with an 8-2 run, taking a 15-12 advantage with 10:13 remaining in the first half.
The Hawks fought hard and closed out the first half with a slim two point lead, 30-28. Led by Kennedy's seven points, the maroon and gray spread out the scoring in the first half with eight players recording at least one bucket and five of them scoring four or more points.
In the second half, Kennedy opened the scoring with a floating jumper, while sophomore guard Candyce Jeter (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) contributed two 3-pointers for a 40-34 lead with 15 minutes left. The game remained close, but with under two minutes remaining, junior Daynese Stowe (Philadelphia, Pa./Florida CC) hit a bucket in the lane and was fouled providing UMES with a 55-50 lead. Key free throws by Stowe, Kennedy and Erica Bennett (Panama City, Fla./Jacksonville CC) sealed the win for the Lady Hawks, 58-56.
The Hawks, who have been much improved from the free throw line, closed out the game from the line as they shot 15-22 from the charity stripe.
Stowe, Kennedy and Bennett led UMES in scoring, each finishing with nine points. Jeter had nine, while Jamila Griffith (Barbados, West Indies/Tallahassee CC) pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with six points. Najmah Fauntleroy had a game high 21 points to lead the Hornets.
The women will continue their home stand as they welcome another MEAC opponent in Howard University on Monday December 6th as part of a men's-women's doubleheader at the Hytche Center.
