March 22, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - In a stunning upset, sixth-seeded Florida A&M University knocked off the defending National Champion Lady Hawks in the semi-finals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, 4-1, halting the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's run of three straight conference titles. FAMU went on to fall to Delaware State University (DSU) 4-0 giving the Hornets the 2009 MEAC Championship, the first in the school's history.

The event, held at Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, N.C., didn't get to see a re-match of last season's finals where UMES topped DSU 4-2.

After winning the title the Hornet's coach, Kim Terrell-Kearney was named the Outstanding Coach of the tournament and had some kind words for the surprise Rattlers and UMES. "Florida A&M performed well all weekend, and really showed what it was made of in defeating UMES in the semifinals," she said. "Maryland Eastern Shore, of course, is the defending national champ and has dominated our league in recent years. UMES has made our whole league better by raising the competitive bar."

The loss was somewhat of a surprise to the Lady Hawks, catching many of them speechless and in tears, including Head Coach Sharon Brummell. The nation's fifth-ranked team went 2-2 overall in the tournament and moves their record to 111-38.

DSU, ranked fourth in the country improved to 114-34 on the year.

Florida A&M upset the defending NCAA Champs by scores of 175-161, 215-185, 154-141, 172-179 and 185-178. After falling to DSU the previous day they won three straight matches topping Norfolk State 3-1, Bethune-Cookman 4-3 and then the Hawks, 4-1.

Despite disappointment in the conference championship UMES still has some unfinished business. They wait until Wednesday (March 25) for the NCAA Tournament selection show to see if they will earn their sixth consecutive bid to the event. Only eight teams make the event and UMES, ranked fifth in the nation, hopes to be one of them. DSU will wait as well as there are no automatic bids to the tournament.

The NCAA Championships are held April 8-11 in Detroit, Michigan.

While the Lady Hawks are hopeful they will make the NCAA field, they are still set to bowl in the USBC Intercollegiate Championships in Rockford Illinois, later in April.