Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - After a slow start in the first quarter, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Basketball Team rallied from a 15-point deficit and knocked off Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Favorite North Carolina A&T, 56-50, inside the Corbett Sports Center. As a result, UMES snapped the Aggies' three-game winning streak.

Furthermore, the Lady Hawks picked up back-to-back wins against North Carolina A&T for the first time since Coach Fred Batchelor took over the program in 2004.

Despite a tough shooting night, Maryland Eastern Shore relied heavily on their defense. Overall, the Aggies shot a season-low 29-percent (19-of-65) from the floor. North Carolina A&T's trio of All-MEAC Preseason selections, Christina Carter, Aprill McRae, and Adriana Nazario, combined for 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting from the field.

UMES' five student-athletes from the Tar Hill State played a major part as they scored 33 of the team's 56 points, led by freshman guard Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, N.C.). Byrom gave the Lady Hawks a spark off the bench, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Moengaroa Subritzky (Auckland, New Zealand), who attended Thomasville Prep in North Carolina, netted 11 points and eight boards in 37 minutes of action.

Maryland Eastern Shore scored the first two baskets in the second half and extended their advantage to five points, 33-28. With more than five minutes left in the third, North Carolina A&T's Kala Green made a fast break layup and trimmed the margin to three points, 35-32. UMES clamped down and held the Aggies to only six points in the period; thus, closing out the quarter on an 11-2 run and took a commanding lead into the fourth, 46-34.

With more than seven minutes left, Byrom made a freebie and gave the Lady Hawks their largest lead of the game, 51-37. North Carolina A&T slowly chipped away at the deficit as UMES began to milk the clock. At the 1:17 mark, the Aggies' Dana Brown drilled a long ball and put the contest back into single-digits, 52-44. Despite the struggles at the foul line, Maryland Eastern Shore held on to win, 56-50.

Other notable Hawk performances included Taryana Kelly (North Brunswick, N.J.) tallying 11 rebounds, nine points, and two blocks. Most importantly, she slowed down the Aggies' top scorer, McRae, and held her to only four points.

North Carolina A&T opened the contest on a 12-0 run until Byrom ended the Lady Hawks' six-minute drought. At the 2:52 mark, Brown made a three-pointer and gave the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 18-3. UMES refused to give up as they closed out the first quarter on a 10-run and put themselves back in the game, 18-13.

Midway through the second, North Carolina A&T held a seven-point advantage, 25-18, until Maryland Eastern Shore scored eight unanswered and took their first lead of the game, 26-25. The lead was short-lived as Nazario nailed a long ball, but senior guard TeAmber Burke responded with a three-pointer of her own and gave the Lady Hawks a one-point lead into intermission, 29-28.

Furthermore, forward Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.) reached another milestone as she passed Nathlon Jackson in the program's all-time DI rebounding list. Currently, the Massachusetts native sits seventh overall. On the night, Udoji ended with a game-high four blocks in the victory.

For North Carolina A&T, Brown was the lone Aggie in double-figures with a team-high 19 points. Nazario added nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from downtown in the loss.

This Wednesday (Dec. 9), the Lady Hawks conclude their four-game road swing in Pittsburgh where they will take on the Duquesne Dukes. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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