PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - This week's Hawk Talk edition features news from men's & women's basketball, and more.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Let's begin!

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Last Monday (Dec. 19), the Hawks fell at American, 61-58. Junior Ryan Andino (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and sophomore Dontae Caldwell (Santa Ana, Calif.) led The Shore with 13 points apiece.

Two days later (Dec. 21), Eastern Shore topped host UTEP, 71-66, to advance to the championship game of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. Bakari Copeland (Decatur, Ga.) registered a career-high 27 points in the victory.

The following day (Dec. 22), the club came up short as they were defeated by Akron, 76-60, in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Championship Game. Caldwell led the Hawks with a season-high 17 points while earning the Don Haskins Award.

On Jan. 2, the Hawks return home to meet Valley Forge. Game-time is set for 6 p.m. inside the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

On Dec. 19, sophomore guard Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, N.C.) earned the conference's top weekly honor as she was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week for her performance at the FAU Holiday Tournament. In two games, the North Carolina native averaged 18 PPG on 62-percent (13-of-21) shooting from the floor and guided Eastern Shore to a tournament title.

Two days later (Dec. 21), the Hawks were defeated by Virginia, 60-50, inside the John Paul Jones Arena. Guard Moengaroa Subritzky (Auckland, New Zealand) had a game-high 20 points in the loss.

On Dec. 30, Maryland Eastern Shore closes out the year and nonconference play at USC-Upstate. Game-time is slated for 5 p.m. inside the Hodges Center.

GENERAL

MCDONALD'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

On Dec. 19, four Maryland Eastern Shore student-athletes were selected for the second installment of the McDonald's Hawks of the Week award for their achievements on and off the field of play during the month of December. The award is presented weekly to a pair of Hawks who excel athletically, academically or community service.

The recipients included Andino (men's basketball), Byrom (women's basketball), Lindie Esteban (women's bowling), and Mariah McCoy (women's basketball).

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