Jan. 27, 2007

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Morgan State (MSU) jumped out to a quick 19-9 lead and never looked back as they took down the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), 65-49, in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House.

UMES (8-12, 4-4 MEAC) got a double-double of 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds from senior Natalia Benton (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monroe CC). Junior Kristi Veltkamp (Hudsonville, Mich./Lansing Home School) finished with 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks while April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle H.S.) added 10 points.

MSU (10-7, 5-3 MEAC) was led by Whitney Johnson's 22 points.Corin Adams had 14 points while Shana Phillips chipped in with 10.

It was a cold shooting night for both teams with the Lady Hawks shooting 25% from the field (15-for-61) and the Lady Bears knocking down 30% of their shots (18-for-61).

UMES turned the ball over 25 times compared to 21 by MSU. The maroon and gray made just 1-of-17 from 3-point range while Morgan State made 6-of-15, good for 40%.

A pair of free-throws by Adams at 2:46 gave MSU a 16-point lead at 31-15, its largest of the half. The maroon and gray cut into the lead to 11 after Benton's layup at 2:39 spurred an 11-4 run by the Hawks. Morgan State held a 35-24 advantage at the half.

UMES made a run at it in the second half and cut the lead down to single digits three different times, the last coming at 13:20 when a free-throw by Veltkamp pulled the Hawks within nine at 43-34.

Morgan responded with a 14-4 run over the next six minutes of play. Johnson's trey at 7:44 capped the spurt and put the Lady Bears up by 19, 57-38. UMES got no closer than 11 after that.

The Lady Hawks face off with conference leading Coppin State at the Hytche Center on January 29 at 5:30 pm.