Feb. 25, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Senior guard Kwinnyata Mercer (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) tallied a career-high 24 points and senior forward Adobi Agbasi (Columbus, Ga.) had a game-high 14 rebounds as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team defeated Morgan State University, 74-58, before 5,500 fans at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center on Homecoming Weekend.
It was the effort of Mercer during a seven minute span in the first-half that proved to be the difference in the game.
With the Hawks trailing, 15-12, after 12 minutes of play, the senior notched 14 points to spark a 19-6 UMES run. Mercer was perfect from three-point range (4-fo-4) during the seven minute span, as her performance overtook a stunned Bears' outfit. The scoring margin would propel the Hawks to a double-digit lead at half, where UMES led, 34-24.
UMES (10-16, 7-7 MEAC) and Morgan St. (6-21, 3-11 MEAC) traded baskets for the first three minutes of second-half play, before a layup by junior forward Chelsea Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) spearheaded a 7-2 Hawk run to give UMES a 46-30 lead at the 14:39 mark.
Despite the large deficit, the Bears would claw themselves back into the game.
MSU scored nine answered points over the next two minutes to bring the game to within five, 48-43, with 11 minutes to go. The Hawks countered the Bears' rally with a push of their own, but UMES' margin would dwindle again over the next few minutes.
MSU's Taylor Kline scored four consecutive points to bring the Bears to within six, 61-55, with five minutes left.
Kline's effort was as close as MSU would get the rest of the way as UMES went on a 13-3 run to conclude regulation and give the Hawks their seventh MEAC victory of the year.
Mercer (24 points) led the Hawks in points for the fourth consecutive game, while senior guard Amber Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) had 18 points and a game-high five assists. Sanders notched 17 points and seven rebounds, while Agbasi had 14 rebounds and nine points.
Agbasi also chipped in with six blocks and stands just 11 away from Kristi Veltkamp's all-time blocks record at UMES.
Morgan State was paced by Omara Parker, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Chyress Lockhart and Moneshia Davis each had eight points. The Bears collected 32 points from their bench and saw 10 players tally points in the loss.
The Hawks will stay at home for their next contest, when the women host Coppin State University on Monday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. The game is the second of three consecutive home contests for UMES.
For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com
