SYRACUSE, New York — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore faces off with (Associated Press) No. 20 Syracuse on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at 8 p.m. at the Carrier Dome and the coaching staff will be focusing on improving on the performance at William and Mary last time out.

While the Hawks (1-1) fell in that game 78-50, it wasn't the final score that concerned head coach Fred Batchelor and his staff. It's more what they saw in the way the team competed against the Tribe. In the early part of the season, the score or the win or loss never tells a coach as much as how his team competed both mentally and fundamentally.

"I was really disappointed with the display of our defensive principles at William & Mary," Batchelor said. "We didn't close out very well at all. I thought we were really poor at closing out. Our defensive positioning was terrible. It looked like we hadn't practice at all. That is what I want to see improve, so that is more of a subjective thing for me to look at and gauge."

The approach against Syracuse will change a bit passed both on their personnel and what the team showed on the road so far. Quick shots, panic and not playing within the offense all hurt the Shore in Williamsburg. He wants the team to focus on settling things down.

"I'd like to see us compete on the glass," Batchelor said. "I think that is a big thing — competing on the glass and taking care of the ball. Ultimately, we want to limit the time that they have the ball. So I want to see us run a lot more offense with a lot more patience. You may see a couple of shot clock violations, but I'd rather be on that end as opposed to turnovers leading to quick baskets. We want to control the score as much as possible in order to be able to put ourselves in a position to compete with them. That is how we have to look at this playing a Top-25 team on the road. We are realistic with our expectations, but I am expecting us to get better  tonight more than anything else."

Three players in the starting lineup against W&M: junior guard Porsha Sydnor (Chicago, Illinois), senior guard Adrienne Jones (Baltimore, Maryland) and sophomore guard Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina) had never started against a Division I opponent headed into the last game. They all struggled to different degrees in a first quarter that saw The Shore get outscored 25-6, commit 11 fouls and turn the ball over 10 times.  

"I thought one of the bright spots for us was Amanda Carney (Parlin, New Jersey) and she was able to fall into the role she has always been in coming off the bench. That was nothing new for her. She has been a little more comfortable in that role."

Carney had 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal, while junior Bairesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky) put up 17 points and five boards to go with four steals.

"For some of the other kids — the first time starting against a DI for the three guards — it was tough," Bachelor said. "I thought Porsha did really well considering what she had to do, but I thought AJ (Jones) and Brooklyn both struggled. I think they will get over that a little bit. My expectations are that we are going to grow."

Sophomore Rose Smith (Harlem, New York) ) — who had a big game (10 points, 4 rebounds) last year at Syracuse and junior JUCO transfer Kenetria Redfern (Cheektowaga, New York) will be playing in their home state.

"I think, game plan wise, I am expecting them to have some impact tonight," Batchelor said. "Even though Rose didn't play the last game it was because I didn't think it was the type of matchup for her where she could be successful with them being undersized and experienced in the post. With what she did last year at this place playing against bigger kids we  are going to need her and I am going to expect her to be effective in her play against them."

For the other kids, the coaches will be looking to see continued and gradual improvement with four freshmen seeing time as they move forward.

"This is going to be a huge growing year for us from one point to another," Batchelor said. "We, as coaches, want to stay encouraged  and want to develop them because they have shown be they are the type of kids we can depend on. We just have to continue to work with them to get them ready."