PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has just what it most needs on a the schedule right now — a pair of home games to lead into the Thanksgiving holiday. The first of those games will come against historic Division II Cheyney University on Saturday (Nov. 17) at 2 p.m.

"We need to approach this like we need a win because we don't have one," head coach Fred Batchelor said.

The Hawks (0-4) are coming off of a pair of games that the players know they should have won. Eastern Shore fell at home, 69-63, to Buffalo and then lost a heartbreakers 57-55 on the Road at Richmond on Nov. 14.

"I think they are a little flat and a little disappointed," Batchelor said. "I think they realize they let one get away.

"I was thinking the last two games we should have won, but I also believe that it is going to make us a better team. You learn a lot more from losses than you do from wins and I think it is going to help us when it matters most."

Cheyney enters the game having most recently lost to a fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school in Norfolk State.

"They are a struggling program, but the coach does a good job and it's a quality program with a lot of tradition and a lot of history," Batchelor said. "It was the first HBCU and legendary coach Vivian Stringer — who just won her 1000^th game — took Cheyney to the first NCAA women's championship game. There is a lot of tradition, history, honor and pride and we are honored to host them."

Stringer began coaching at Cheyney for the 1972-73 season. She and the Wolves reached the first NCAA Championship game in 1982, but lost to Louisiana Tech. The following season, she left for Iowa and the rest is history. She went 251-51 at Cheyney over 12 seasons and 269-84 at Iowa leading the Hawkeyes to eight NCAA tournament appearances and one trip to the Final Four. At Rutgers, she is 480-267 has led the Scarlett Knights to 14 NCAA tournament appearances and two trips to the Final Four.

Senior forward Marlon Herring leads the Wolves with 9.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Senior point guard Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) leads the Hawks with 15.8 points per game, but had a rough day at Richmond. Bairesha Gill-Miles is second on the team in scoring (10.5) and rebounding (6.3).

Junior Ksenia Popovich (Moscow, Russia) has been the biggest surprise of the season so far for the Hawks averaging 8.5 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds in 29 minutes a game.

"Kay has been one of our most consistent players in the early season," Batchelor said. "So it has been a bright spot and very encouraging going into a season where we were a little uncertain at that position. It's been great for her because she is establishing her confidence, but I'm really, really pleased with her development."