Feb. 5, 2007
Box Score
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team held off a scrappy South Carolina State (SCSU) squad Monday evening, 72-63 to sweep the season series with the Lady Bulldogs.
SCSU (5-17, 3-9 MEAC) battled back from an eight point halftime deficit to tie things up at 54-54 with just over seven minutes left. A pair of free-throws by Sophilia Hipps at 6:45 gave the Lady Bulldogs their first lead of the night, but the Hawks stretched the lead to five at the four minute mark off a trey by Jelila Abdul-Bassit (Anchorage, Alaska/Monroe C.C.).
Ashley Dublin's free-throws at 2:01 cut the maroon and gray lead down to one and again closed SCSU within striking distance, but the Hawks sealed the win with an 8-0 run to close the game, spurred by a key block by junior Danielle Cooper (New York, N.Y./Manhattan College). Cooper, Candyce Jeter (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill Academy) and Natalia Benton (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monroe C.C.) hit crucial free-throws to vault UMES past SCSU.
"There is no quitting with South Carolina State, they are always tough," said UMES head coach Fred Batchelor. "When we were down there they swung the ball around a lot, so tonight we played a lot of man and didn't give them any outs."
UMES (10-13, 6-5 MEAC) shot 41% for the game (24-for-58), including a blistering 50% in the first half. The Hawks also connected on 21-of-26 from the charity stripe (81%) and forced 17 Lady Bulldog turnovers. UMES passed the ball wall, dishing out 13 assists compared to six by SCSU.
"Down the stretch we made six free-throws in a row," Batchelor. "I was really pleased because making those free-throws showed a lot of mental toughness."
The maroon and gray got a team high 14 points to go along with eight rebounds from Benton. April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle H.S.) added 11 points and a career-high five assists.
Baity paced South Carolina State with 16 points. Hipps added 12 while Janelle Moore contributed 10.
The Lady Hawks have a buy this weekend and return to action on Monday, February 12 with a road decision at Delaware State at 5:30 pm.
