Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - In the fifth meeting, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Basketball Team dropped their nonconference matchup against the Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) Rams, 63-39, inside the Siegel Center.

With the loss, UMES fell to 3-7 overall while the Rams improved to 7-2 on the season.

Maryland Eastern Shore was unable to find any offensive rhythm as they scored a season-low 39 points. Guard Moengaroa Subritzky (Auckland, New Zealand) had a team-high 10 points and a career-high three steals while senior center Taryana Kelly (North Brunswick, N.J.) added a team-high seven boards, six points, and two blocks in the defeat.

With only 35 ticks remaining in the third, UMES pulled within 10 points after a made freebie from Taylor Thompson (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 41-31. As time dwindled, Subritzky nailed a pair of free throws and placed Maryland Eastern Shore in striking distance, 41-33, but VCU's Ashley Pegram also made two freebies before the period ended, 43-33.

VCU opened the fourth on a 10-0 run and extended their deficit to 20 points, 53-33. UMES continued to fight back, but the margin would be too great as they fell, 63-39.

For the Rams, Pegram registered a game-high 17 points on 7-of-12 from the floor. Curteeona Brelove came off the bench and posted a double-double, 16 points and 10 rebounds, in the victory.

Maryland Eastern Shore began the contest on an 11-4 run, capped off by Kelly's layup. VCU's Beth O'Boyle called a timeout and regrouped her squad. After the brief intermission, the Rams closed out the quarter on a 7-1 run and pulled within one point, 12-11.

Moments into the second quarter, Pegram gave the Rams their first lead since scoring the first bucket, 13-12. Seconds later, TeAmber Burke (Washington, N.C.) dished off to Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.) and put UMES back on top, 14-13. In a six-minute stretch, the Rams scored 14 unanswered points until two freebies from Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, N.C.) ended the drought, 27-16. In the final minute, Subritzky drained a long ball and cut the margin to 15 points before halftime, 35-20.

This Tuesday (Dec. 15), the Lady Hawks return home for a three-game home stretch against in-state rival UMBC. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visitwww.umeshawks.com .