Nov. 19, 2005

Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 1:50 pm Saturday
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The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks continue play at the four-team Lancer Invitational, as they take on Gardner-Webb in the consolation game Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall. The Lady Hawks opened the season with a 14-point loss to tournament-host Longwood University Friday night. Last season UMES had its first winning conference record (10-8) in seven seasons ('97-'98), and has been picked to finish fifth in the preseason MEAC poll.

The Lady Hawks welcome seven newcomers this weekend, including five freshmen and two junior college transfers.

Great Expectations
Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Fred Batchelor, the Lady Hawks are entering one of their most anticipated seasons in years. UMES has returned its top three scorers and rebounders from 2004-05 in addition to adding several talented pieces to the mix.

The Lady Hawks will be led in the frontcourt by standouts Kristi Veltkamp and Jamila Griffith, first and second-team preseason All-MEAC selections. Two-time JUCO national champion Natalia Benton joins them to form one of the MEAC's biggest front lines. Without a single point guard returning from last season, UMES will have new faces running the offense. Freshman DeVaughn Hailey and senior Rachael Goodwin, who re-joined the team this summer after a year's absence, make up the starting backcourt.

News and Notes
The Lady Hawks 10-8 conference record last season gave the team its first winning MEAC season since 1997-'98 (12-6), a span of seven seasons...

UMES placed two women on the preseason All-MEAC teams: sophomore F/C Kristi Veltkamp on the first team and senior F Jamila Griffith on the second team. Veltkamp finished second on the team in scoring and rebounding during her freshman campaign, while Griffith led the team in rebounds per game last season.

The Lady Hawks do not return any of last season's regular point guards, following the departures of Erica Bennett (out of eligibility), Ashley Chase (left program) and Kolade Aderoju (transferred). In their stead, freshman DeVaughn Hailey and senior Rachael Goodwin should be the main figures asked to run the offense.

Walk-on Toni Kennedy led the Lady Hawks in scoring (10.0 ppg), field goals attempted (270) and three-pointers made (57) last season. She shot better from three-point range (35%) than her overall field goal percentage (32%).

LADY HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
11 DeVaughn Hailey G 5'5 Fr. -- --
Freshman from Camden, NJ...Played at Woodrow Wilson HS, where she started for four seasons...Helped team win the South Jersey championship and the New Jersey Group III Tournament of Champions Final in 2005.
00 Rachael Goodwin G 5'6 Sr. -- --
Senior from Memphis, Tn....Played 1 1/2 seasons (2002-03, part of 2003-04) at UMES before sitting out last season, re-joined squad this summer...Played in a total of 35 games prior to `05-'06 (5.7 ppg career).
21 Qiana Cheatham F 5'10 Jr. 5.8 3.1
Junior from Baltimore, Md. started final six games last season (11.2 ppg) after making only three starts her first 43 collegiate contests.
35 Jamila Griffith F 6'0 Sr. 8.3 7.6
Voted to Preseason All-MEAC Second-Team...Led team in rebounding last season (7.6 rpg), was third in scoring (8.3 ppg)...2003 transfer from Tallahassee C.C. (Tallahasee, Fl.), originally from Barbados (West Indies).
3 Kristi Veltkamp F/C 6'3 So. 8.8 4.5
Voted to Preseason All-MEAC First-Team...Sophomore from Hudsonville, Mi. finished second on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg) and rebounding (4.5 rpg) her freshman season...Won State and National Homeschool championships in 2003 along with current teammate Alicia Loxen.

Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Brittany Adkins F 6'1 So. 3.1 3.6
Sophomore from Millsboro, De., played in 26 games freshman season...Played at Susxex Tech. HS where she made first-team all-state senior year.
2 Alicia Loxen G 5'6 Fr. -- --
Red-shirt freshman from Owosso, Mi. sat out last season with a knee injury...Won State and National Homeschool championships in 2003 along with current teammate Kristi Veltkamp.
12 Jasmine Speed F 5'10 Fr. -- --
Freshman from Chesterfield, Mi....Played at Anchor Bay HS.
22 Adrienne Brown G 5'5 Fr. -- --
Walk-on from Springdale, Md....Attended prep school at The Patterson School (Lenoir, NC) in 04-05...Played at Charles H. Flowers HS (Landover).
23 Natalia Benton F/C 6'3 Jr. -- --
JUCO transfer from Monroe C.C. (Rochester, NY) where she won consecutive Division II NJCAA National Championships (`04, `05) and was named to the All-Tournament Team last season...Originally from Brooklyn, NY.
25 Daynese Stowe C 6'2 Sr. 4.0 3.3
Senior from Philadelphia, 2004 transfer from Florida C.C. (Jacksonville, Fl.)...Played in 26 games last season, averaged 4.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
32 Almalika Lemon F 6'1 Jr. -- --
JUCO transfer, played at Frank Phillips College (Borger, Tx.) in `03-'04 and at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Ok.) in `02-'03...Did not play anywhere in `04-'05...Originally from Manhattan, NY (St. Michael Academy).
33 Toni Kennedy G 5'6 Sr. 10.0 2.8
Senior from Baltimore, Md. led Lady Hawks in scoring last season (10.0 ppg) after walking onto team...JUCO transfer from Labette C.C. (Parsons, Ks., `02-'03) and Grayson C.C. (Denison, Tx., `03-'04)...Played at Dunbar HS where she became school's all-time leading scorer (1,128 pts) and won three consecutive state championships (`00-'02).
34 Tiffany Reid G 5'9 Fr. -- --
Freshman from Philadelphia, played at National Christian Academy (Ft. Washington, Md.) after starring at Strawberry Mansion HS in the Philly Public League...Made first-team all-Public League two consecutive seasons.

The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team concludes its busy opening week to the 2005-06 regular season with a match-up against the St. John's Red Storm at Carnesecca Arena Saturday night. The young Hawks, featuring eight freshmen and ten newcomers on the roster, will be completing a stretch of playing four games in six days.

UMES lost to cross-state rival UMBC Friday night after splitting a pair of games at the Guardian's Classic in Iowa City Monday and Tuesday. Head Coach Larry Lessett is beginning his second season at UMES with only four active players returning from last season's team that finished 2-26 (1-17 MEAC). St. John's, playing in its season opener, is beginning its second season under Head Coach Norm Roberts.

Changing of the Guard
The 2005-'06 Hawk men's basketball team has a completely different face from that of the team that lost to Morgan State 77-56 in the MEAC Tournament opening round this March. Only five of the 14 players who suited up last season for the Hawks have returned (only four of which are currently active).

Fortunately for UMES, one of the returnees is Tim Parham, the MEAC's leading rebounder last season and a preseason MEAC Second Team selection this year. Parham tested the waters of the NBA draft last April but withdrew his name after deciding to return for his senior season. He's joined by freshmen guards Jesse Brooks and Ed Tyson, along with big men Qavotstaraj Waddell and Antonio McMillion in the starting line-up.

News and Notes
This season became the first time in four seasons ('01-'02) that UMES started at 1-1. Still no Hawks team has started a season 2-1 since 1995-96, a span of ten seasons. The last time a UMES team was above the .500 mark at any point of a season was 1998-'99 (seven seasons ago), when the squad went 3-2 and then 4-3...

Tim Parham has already recorded two double-doubles (11.14 at Iowa, 11.18 at UMBC) this season. He led the MEAC with 11 in `04-'05...

UMES is shooting only 49% from the foul line this season (27-55). Tim Parham is shooting 32% from the charity stripe (6-19).

The Hawks returned only five players (Tim Parham, Ryan Leak, Tal Cohen, Terrell Harris and Shondale Robinson) from last season's squad that finished 2-26 (1-17 MEAC). One of those players, the senior Robinson, is likely out for the season with a broken leg.

The Hawks averaged 57 ppg last season (11th/11 in MEAC), and allowed 80 ppg last season (11th/11 in MEAC). UMES finished with the lowest RPI in the nation last season (330/330)...

UMES has started three consecutive seasons at 1-12 (and two straight at 1-13). In `02-'03, the team finished 5-23, in '03-'04 8-21, and last season 2-26.

UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
10 Jesse Brooks G 6'1 170 Fr. 6.5 3.5
Freshman from Severn, Md...Played last season at Notre Dame Prep School(Fitchburg, Ma.)...Played at Archbishop Spalding HS, where he finished 2nd all-time in assists and was a teammate of current UCONN star Rudy Gay.
5 Ed Tyson G 6'3 205 Fr. 6.5 2.0
Freshman from Baltimore, Md...Played at Walbrook HS where he won the 2005 Maryland class 4A state championship and was ranked amongst the top point guards in the state...Nicknamed and commonly referred to as "Butz."
44 Antonio McMillion F 6'5 210 Jr. 14.5 3.5
JUCO transfer from Colby C.C. (Colby, Ks.) where he averaged 15.6 ppg last season...Attended Central Connecticut St. (CCSU) from 2002-2004, but missed `02-'03 with eye injury and played only 7 games in `03-'04...Played at Randallstown HS where he won the Maryland class 3A state championship in 2002 (senior season) and was named Third-Team All-State.
42 Tim Parham F 6'9 240 Sr. 16.0 9.5
Voted to Preseason All-MEAC Second-Team...Led MEAC in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and double-doubles (11) last season, all 11 double-doubles in last 19 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Announced eligibility for 2005 NBA Draft last April before withdrawing prior to draft and returning for senior season...2003 transfer from Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, Ia).
1 Qavotstaraj Waddell C 6'11 240 Fr. 3.5 6.0
Red-shirt freshman from Norfolk, VA...Sat out last season to complete year in residence...Named preseason MEAC Top Newcomer by Street & Smith's College Basketball...Played at Coastal Christian Academy HS (Virginia Beach) where he played with NY Knicks' center Jackie Butler.

Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Dorian Pierce G 6'0 170 Fr. 0.5 1.5
Freshman from Jackson, Mi., played at Jackson HS...Originally from Detroit.
13 Art Valentine F 6'7 215 Jr. 0.0 0.5
JUCO transfer from Fulton-Montgomery C.C. (Johnstown, NY), where he averaged 16 ppg over his 2 seasons...Originally from Harlem, NY.
15 Troy Jackson G 6'3 175 Fr. 9.5 2.0
Freshman from Wilkes Barre, PA...Played at Laurinburg Prep School (Laurinburg, NC) in 2004-05, and before that at Scranton HS (Scranton, Pa.).
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Sr. 1.0 0.5
Walk-on from Philadelphia played in final 5 games last season... Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched in 20 games (0-1, 9.89 ERA).
22 Shaun Warrick G 6'0 150 Fr. 0.0 0.0
Freshman walk-on from Philadelphia, played at Lutheran HS.
24 C.J. Prince G 6'3 200 Fr. -- --
Freshman walk-on from Teaneck, NJ, played at Teaneck HS.
30 Tal Cohen F 6'8 230 So. 0.0 0.0
Played in 27 games last season...Sophomore from Hadera, Israel, played on the Israeli Junior National Team while in the Israeli Army for three years.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 So. 0.0 0.0
Played in 27 games last season (16 starts), averaged 5.7 ppg...Sophomore from Jamaica, NY, averaged 21 ppg for Bayside HS his senior season.
45 Brandon Moore F 6'9 195 Fr. 0.0 0.0
Red-shirt freshman from Baltimore, Md....Sat out last season to complete year in residence...Played at Southern HS, former home of UMES assistant coach Meredith Smith (but did not play for him).

UMES Hawks (1-2)
2005-06 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/10 Davis & Elkins. (Ex) W 82-68
11/14 ^at Iowa L 41-86
11/15 ^v. Utah Valley St. W 75-72 (OT)
11/18 at UMBC L 65-75


Upcoming Games
Date Game Result
11/19 at St. John's 7:30 pm
11/25 Nicholls St. 4:00 pm
12/1 at Marshall 7:00 pm
12/3 at Morehead St. 7:45 pm
12/7 at Rutgers 7:30 pm
12/10 at Howard* 6:00 pm
12/17 at George Wash. 2:00 pm
12/20 at Brown 7:00 pm
1/4 N.C. A&T* 7:30 pm
1/7 at Hampton* 6:00 pm
1/9 at Norfolk State* 8:00 pm
1/16 Delaware State* 2:00 pm
1/21 at Fla. A&M* 4:00 pm
1/23 at Beth-Cook.* 7:30 pm
1/28 at Morgan St.* 4:00 pm
1/30 at Coppin St.* 7:30 pm
2/4 Hampton* 4:00 pm
2/6 Norfolk St.* 7:30 pm
2/13 at Delaware St* 7:30 pm
2/18 Florida A&M* 4:00 pm
2/20 Beth.-Cookman* 7:30 pm
2/25 Morgan State* 4:00 pm
2/27 Coppin State* 7:30 pm
3/1 at S. Carolina St* 7:30 pm
3/4 Howard* 4:00 pm
3/6-11 MEAC Tourney TBA

*denotes MEAC conference game
^at Guardian's Classic (Iowa City)

Larry Lessett- Head Coach
Lawrence Lessett, Jr. is in his second season as head coach of the Hawks (2-26 record). While this position marks his debut as a Division I head coach, he has amassed almost thirty years of coaching experience from the high school level through the professional ranks.

Lessett came to Princess Anne after spending three years as a global scout for Magic Johnson International Basketball. Prior to that he served as head coach of the Magic City Snowbears of the International Basketball Association (IBA), where he coached the team to a franchise record in wins and a playoff appearance in his only season.

No stranger to the college ranks, Lessett has made several collegiate stops in his career, most recently as head basketball coach and athletic director of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. He has also served as an assistant coach at Mercer University, De Anza College, Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia College, Santa Barbara City College, Western New Mexico University, Loyola Marymount University and Cal State Northridge.

Lessett received a Bachelors degree in Physical Education from Cal State Northridge in 1983 and a Masters degree in Phys Ed and Health from Georgia College in 1991.

Assistant Coaches

Meredith Smith- Assistant Coach
Meredith Smith is in his second season as the first assistant men's basketball coach with the Hawks. He has returned to his alma mater after accumulating almost 30 years of high school coaching experience. Smith graduated from UMES, then Maryland State College, in 1975.

Smith became head coach men's basketball coach at Southern High School in Baltimore City in 1978 and held that position for 24 seasons. During that time he compiled a win-loss record of 414-145, giving him the second most victories in Baltimore City Public School history. Smith won 25 playoff games, including three Maryland State Championships, two Maryland Scholastic Association Conference Championships and a Baltimore City Championship in 1999-2000.

In 1993 the Baltimore Sun named Smith their "Coach of the Year." He holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary and Physical Education from UMES and a Master's degree from Coppin State University.

Bert DeSalvo- Assistant Coach
Bert DeSalvo is in his first year as an assistant coach for the Hawks, primarily responsible for film exchange and budgeting. He comes to UMES after serving one year as the Girls' Varsity Head Coach at Chariho High School in Rhode Island.

While at Chariho, DeSalvo led his team to a playoff appearance in 2004-'05 with an 11-14 overall record. From 2001-'04 he was the Boys' Junior Varsity Head Coach at South Kingstown High School (R.I.), leading his team to a co-division championship in 2001-'02. DeSalvo has also coached at the middle school level and for several AAU teams.

DeSalvo received a Batchelor's degree in History from the University of Rhode Island in 2002.

MEAC 2005-06 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Points
1. S Car. St. (10) 402
T-2.*Delaware St. (6) 370
T-2.Hampton (4) 370
4. Norfolk State 240
5. Florida A&M 238
6. Coppin State 230
7. Bethune-Cook. 202
8. N Carolina A&T 146
9. Morgan State 138
10. Howard 78
11. MD East-Shore 26
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
*2005 regular season and MEAC Tournament champion

Preseason MEAC First Team
G Antonio Webb, Beth-Cook.
G Tony Tate, Florida A&M
G Jahsha Blunt, Delaware St.
F Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
C Bruce Brown, Hampton


Second Team
G Tony Murphy, Norfolk St.
G Jeff Granger, Hampton
F Darius Glover, Florida A&M
F Tim Parham, UMES
F Brian Mason, SC St.


Preseason Player of the Year:
Bruce Brown, Hampton

-Selected in a vote by MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors