PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore suffered on of its worst losses of the 2018-19 season on the road at Longwood. The 83-71 defeat at the hands of a Lancers squad that would finish the year 3-17, was a low point for a Hawks team that put things together and went on to win 17 games.
Thursday's (Dec. 19) battle with Longwood on their home court will be not only a chance for a little revenge for the Hawks, but also a chance to build on a win against Mount St. Mary's in their last game.
"They are a tough team with two kids averaging 15 points a game," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "They are going to be tough. They have a really good point guard and a wing that can score and a post that can score which is going to be a problem for us."
Senior forward Dayna Rouse leads Longwood with 15.1 points per game and pulls down a team-high 6.5 rebounds. Kyla McMakin, a freshman guard from Virginia Beach, is second on the team with 15.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds. Junior point guard Tra'Daya Smith is 12th in the nation in assists per game with 6.3, while sophomore forward Akila Smith leads the Big South in blocks with 2.3 per game.
The Hawks will be looking to build on a 78-76 home victory last time out against the Mountaineers.
"We did a good job of matching up well with them other than a couple of their shooters we didn't really identify as quickly as we should have and that lasted the whole game," Batchelor said. "I thought the difference in the game was that we shot great, but we also shot great from the free throw line , which we hadn't done all year. To make 19 free throws — we made more than they attempted — was probably the difference in the game."
The Hawks shot 49% from the field and 70% form the free throw line in that contest. They also played a more aggressive game, balancing perimeter shooting with drives to the basket drawing contact and getting to the line.
Following the game, the Hawks will host Georgetown on Saturday (Dec. 21) at 2 p.m. and then they will be off until they travel to Charlotte on Dec. 28.
