PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — With 6:40 to go in the fourth quarter against University of Buffalo on Sunday (Nov. 11) at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was buried under a 14-point Bulls advantage.
The Shore (0-3) had never led in the contest and trailed by double digits for much of it, but Buffalo wasn't out of the woods yet. Eastern Shore cut the lead to four, 59-55, on a 3-pointer by sophomore
Amanda Carney (Parlin, New Jersey) with 3:57 to go and still the Bulls rallied.
Carney's steal and layup with 11 seconds left cut the lead to just 63-60, but by then the free throw line was taking its toll on the Hawks. Buffalo (1-0) scored its last six points of the game over the next 11 seconds — all from the line — to pull away for a 69-63 win.
"Every time we put ourselves in the position to win the game, we find a way to give it away," head coach
Fred Batchelor said. "Getting over the hump plays, we just kept struggling with those. We got fortunate and made a shot, but it doesn't help when a team comes in and makes five more free throws than you attempt on the road.
"I thought that was a big advantage for them and disappointing for us."
Buffalo senior guard Cierra Dillard actually attempted more free throws than the Hawks all by herself and finished with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steal in 40 minutes.
Sophomore
Bairesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky) led the Hawks with 14 points to go with a pair of rebounds an assist and a steal, while senior point guard
Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) finished with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists.
"I think some good things happened with us getting a chance to see some kids that I think can really help us throughout the year," Batchelor said. "We just have to put a 40-minute game together though."
Junior
Ksenia Popovich (Moscow, Russia) continued to improve with a career-high 10 points and matching a career-high with eight rebounds. She also chipped in an assist and a steal in 20 minutes of action.
Classmate
Chioma Nkpuechina (Anambra, Nigeria) played a career-high 28 minutes, grabbed a career-high six rebounds and had four points.
"After three games so far, I'd say that our post players are adequate and can play above that, while playing against bigger kids," Batchelor said. "We are not going to see this type of size and athleticism in December outside one or two teams, so I am encouraged by that. That was one of the concerns a lot of people had. But I as an optimist just believed in these kids and development and they are proving that they can really help us."
The Hawks also got important contributions from both Carney and classmate
Porsha Sydnor (Chicago, Illinois) coming off the bench. Carney — in her first action of the season — had four rebounds, five points and a steal, while Sydnor had six points, including a pair of 3s, a rebounds three assists and a steal. Each played 11 minutes.
"I was encouraged with Amanda," Batchelor said. "I thought she really came in and helped us, did some good things and was ready to go. It's all a mentality. She came to see me the other day and Porsha came to see me the other day. They said coach I want to play and I feel like I can help you. I look down the bench sometimes and they are looking at me like put me in, not mad, but like I can help, so it's encouraging to see that come through for them."
The Shore will next travel to the University of Richmond for a Nov. 14 matchup at 7 p.m. That is followed by a pair of home games — Cheyney, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. and Regent, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. before a short Thanksgiving break.
"We go on the road against Richmond and I don't know if they have won a game yet," Batchelor said. "Hopefully they didn't play their worst basketball already, but we have to go in there and we have to take a game at their place.
"Good things don't have to happen for you to do that. You have to make it happen. That is what we are focused on, so that we can get that zero out of the left side of our record."
