Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - For the first time since 2011, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Basketball Team won their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener by defeating North Carolina Central (NCCU), 71-61, inside the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. The victory also gave UMES their first three-game winning streak since the 2010-11 season.

With the win, the Lady Hawks improved to 3-4 (1-0 MEAC) on the season while NCCU dropped to 2-5 (0-1 MEAC) overall.

Maryland Eastern Shore had the upper-hand for majority of the contest as they led for more than 34 minutes. UMES outworked the Lady Eagles on the glass, 47-35, and outhustled them in second chance points, 21-11. Furthermore, the Lady Hawks scored 20 points off 18 North Carolina Central turnovers.

Senior guards Jessica Long (Fort Washington, Md.) and Shawnee Sweeney (Chester, Va.) led the squad, combining for 25 points. Long notched a team-high 15 points, five assists, five boards, and three steals while Sweeney added 10 points, two dimes, and two rebounds in the victory.

After taking a double-digit halftime lead, 40-28, UMES came out aggressive as junior forward Taryana Kelly (North Brunswick, N.J.) scored on an offensive put back to extend the lead, 42-28. With more than six minutes remaining, the Lady Hawks held their largest lead of the game, 63-46, but North Carolina Central would make one final run. Within the next five minutes, the Lady Eagles went on a 15-4 run to cut the deficit to single digits, 67-61. In the final seconds, UMES regained the momentum as back-to-back layups from Sweeney and Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.) sealed the victory, 71-61.

Other notable Hawk performances included TeAmber Burke (Washington, N.C.) and Mariah McCoy (Rock Hill, S.C.) coming off the bench, combining for 22 points, while Kelly posted eight points and a game-high 12 boards in the win.

In the first five minutes, the Lady Hawks trailed, 8-7, after a made jumper from NCCU's Imani Atkinson. Within the next five minutes, UMES outscored the Lady Eagles, 18-7, to reclaim the lead, 25-16. North Carolina Central trimmed the deficit to six, 25-19, but Maryland Eastern Shore went on a 7-0 run to push the lead to double-digits, 33-19. NCCU battled back as they cut the Lady Hawks' lead in half, 33-26, with less than three minutes before intermission. UMES kept their composure as they closed out the half on a 7-2 run to take a halftime lead, 40-28.

For the Lady Eagles, Racquel Davis had a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds. Morgan Jones recorded 13 points and three boards while Khyra Conerly added 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-high six steals in a losing effort.

This Monday (12/08), the Lady Hawks host MEAC preseason favorite North Carolina A&T to wrap up their four-game home stand. Game-time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.



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