Jan. 3, 2008

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PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Lady Hawks played the game against Army without four players, including three starters. All are injured and out of the lineup but Head Coach Fred Batchelor didn't think that if they had been healthy this would have been a sure win. That is because Army shot an amazing 68.4 percent for the game, including 71.4 percent in the first half, to take a 76-64 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in women's basketball action on Thursday afternoon in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

"I've never seen that shooting percentage," Batchelor said. "I always say defense has something to do with it, we could have played better defense, of course, but when they don't miss, for a team to shoot 68 percent from the field, even healthy they would have been a tough team to beat."

UMES (4-6) was without guards Casey Morton, Tiffany Reid and Jelila Abdul-Bassit and forward Jasmine Speed. Speed is out for the season with a torn ACL while the other three have a variety of injuries that should not keep out of action much longer. The Hawks did have three starters in the line-up with Kristi Veltkamp, Jessica Ayilola and April McBride but started Queenique Tyler and Talareah Frazier, both freshmen, at the guard spots.

The players responded however as four players set or tied career highs in scoring while the team set or tied seven other career highs in assists, rebounding or blocks.

McBride led the Hawks with 20 points, tying her career high for the third time while Frazier, Dominique Reece and Josephine McLane all set new career highs in scoring with 10, three and nine points respectively.

The unsung hero of the game was Brittany Adkins who poured in eight points and grabbed ten rebounds, tying a career mark. She was two points shy of a second consecutive double double.

UMES out rebounded the Black Knights 25-21. Rebounds, however, were tough to come by, especially on the Army glass as they shot a blistering 26 of 38 from the field and seven of 12 from behind the arc. The Hawks weren't bad from the floor, connecting on 23 of 50 shots for 46 percent but the sharp shooting cadets couldn't seem to miss.

Cara Enright had a quiet 25 points. Quiet, because she only took 15 shots and made nine of them, including a three for seven mark from behind the arc. Nalini Hawkins added 17, including seven on the charity stripe while Alex McGuire finished with 16 points. McGuire was a perfect six for six from the free throw line, helping Army (7-6) to a 77.3 percent effort there.

Stefanie Stone was also in double figures for Army with 10 points.

Army led 38-33 at the half and the score was nearly identical in the second half, 38-31 as UMES was downed by 12. It was a seven point game with just over a minute to go as Frazier sank a pair of free throws after going hard to the basket, making it 71-64. The Lady Hawks were forced to foul and Army extended their lead.

UMES played the final six and half minutes without their leading scorer McBride, who fouled out. Army's Erin Anthony was also disqualified on fouls with just under five minutes to play. She finished with two points and three rebounds.

The Lady Hawks are home again on Sunday, hosting Kent State at 1:00 p.m. in the Hytche Center.