Feb. 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) junior April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y.) scored 12 of her game-high 20 points from the free throw line, as the Lady Hawks outlasted Howard University 54-49 Saturday afternoon. UMES (10-10) is now 6-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after topping the Lady Bison.

This is the fourth straight game McBride has scored 20 or more points and her fifth straight double-double as she added a game-high 13 rebounds to the day. Tiffany Reid (Philadelphia, Pa.) was the only other Lady Hawk in double digits with 10 points.

UMES trailed most of the contest and were down by as much as eight points in the second half. A three point shot by Reid with 7:26 on the clock started an 11-0 run for UMES. The Lady Hawks held Howard scoreless for over six minutes as they took the lead 50-46.

Howard pulled to within one point with 1:05 remaining in the game. But Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) took the point, drove to the basket and was fouled making a layup with 18 seconds remaining. Morton would miss the free throw, but Reid was fouled with five seconds on the clock. She would make the two free throws to seal the deal for UMES.

The Lady Bison (4-17, 3-6 MEAC) were led by Zykia Brown. She finished with a team-high 13 points and Morgan Neal had 10 points adding a team high eight rebounds.

UMES stays on the road and heads to MEAC rival Hampton University on February 9. Fans can listen in for the tipoff at 6 p.m. on umeshawks.com and also on Timeless Classics 540AM.