PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore jumped out to an 18-3 lead against visiting Morgan State starting the game with a flourish on Monday. But the Hawks (4-15, 1-5) managed just 15 points over the next two quarters as the Bears (10-11, 6-2 MEAC) took control of the game on the inside.
Morgan then outscored The Shore 21-11 in the decisive fourth quarter for a 55-44 win.
"I thought Morgan's inside kids were really dominant tonight and I thought that had a lot to do with it," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "But when you are at home and you have kids who just haven't been able to put the ball in the basket in a consistent basis its hard. We had a great first quarter and then you get nine points and six points and you are talking about the same team. It's like playing golf and you hit one in the woods and then one right on the fairway.
"We are not playing well enough consistently to beat anybody. We have got to keep getting better."
The Bears' duo of Dayhne Redd and Chelsea Mitchell combined for 29 points and 23 rebounds on 12-of-23 shooting. Mitchell had 14 rebounds, Redd added nine, while freshman Jamaya Blanks (Greensboro, North Carolina) and senior Ksenia Popovich (Moscow, Russia) led the haws with five apiece.
Morgan State held just a 43-38 rebounding advantage in the game, but outrebounded Eastern Shore 22-14 in the second half.
"Morgan went hard consistently on the glass and that is who they are," Batchelor said. "We talked about that. We haven't had a consistent rebounding presence all season. Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) is probably our leading rebounder (4.4 per game) and she is your shooter. That's why we are looking for answers. We are looking for play. We are looking for kids to step up and we just haven't been able to do that with this group.
"Hopefully, we can find a way to get there with still a whole lot of season to go."
Carney missed the game with an illness, taking away the team's most consistent outside threat (46-of-130, 36%) from behind the arc.
Sophomore Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) led the team in scoring with 12 points and chipped in four boards in her first career start. Senior Porsha Sydnor (Chicago, Illinois) had eight assists against two turnovers and added three rebounds.
For the second straight game, senior Dayona Godwin (Ocean Pines, Maryland) played strong off the bench chipping in nine points and three rebounds in 17 minutes.
"Day was really effective again and I'm pleased to see that for a kid who just works so hard and waits her turn and waits her turn," Batchelor said. "She's really what character is all about. I'm happy to see her get some personal satisfaction from playing because she has put a lot into this."
The Hawks will next travel to Delaware State on Monday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m.
