Dec. 20, 2008
Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. - For the second straight year, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team scratched out their first win of the season against North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The 71-66 win over the Lady Eagles breaks a six game losing streak and takes UMES into their last game of 2008 on a high note.
"I feel good that we found a way to win a game that we didn't play very well in," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "I've got a saying about not peaking too early and I think we're definitely an example of that. We're not making anything easy on ourselves and to find a way to win a game like this on the road was good for us; it builds character."
NCCU went up 10-3 early after LaVonna Hailey finished off a three point play at the foul line with 15:59 on the clock. UMES managed to tie the game up twice but the Lady Eagles pushed ahead by 10 points, their largest lead of the day, on a jumper by Danielle DeBerry with 5:44 left in the half.
Passing through NCCU's half court trap, the Lady Hawks then fought back into the game going on a 12-3 run to pull within one point with 1:09 on the clock. After grabbing a defensive rebound, UMES would miss two shots in the final seven seconds and go into the half down 39-38.
Keeping their momentum, the Lady Hawks scored five quick points, forcing an NCCU timeout just 44 seconds into the half. The Lady Eagles regrouped and took the lead back, but UMES tied the game for the fourth and final time on a three point basket by Tiffany Reid (Philadelphia, Pa.) and took the lead on a jumper by April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y.) with 7:53 on the clock.
NCCU would pull to within two points on a jumper by leading scorer Jori Nwachukwu with 5:19 left in the game before UMES pulled away to an eight point lead, their largest of the day, after a steal by Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) just 14 seconds to victory.
Four Lady Hawks hit double figures with Reid leading the pack at a season-high18 points. McBride finished with a season-high 14 points and freshman Kanzes Battin (Wilmington, Del.) tied her season high eight rebounds while putting up 12 points, nearly netting a double-double. Morton closes out the group with 10 points, a game-high three steals and tied her season high leading the team with six assists.
NCCU's Nwachukwu had a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Hailey, putting in 38 minutes on the court, finished with 13 points and DeBerry had 11 points on the night.
UMES will get another week and a half off before taking in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Morgan State in non-conference play on December 30 at 5:30 p.m. in Baltimore, Md.
