DOVER, Delaware— The University of Maryland Eastern Shore fell behind 13-0 to start Monday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle at Delaware State and never really seemed to get it back, falling 72-58.

The Hawks (4-16, 1-6 MEAC) cut the lead to as few as 11 points in the second half, while the Hornets led by as many as 25 after the break.

"It was a very slow start," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "We got down 13 to zip and then we were down 13 at the half. It seems like we never really recovered from that first spurt. And  we have got to make some shots too. We go 2-for-20 from the outside and we were o-for-9 at the half. You can't take 20 threes and make two of them. I thought they were all good looks. At some point some good things have to start happening for us."

The Shore turned the ball over 15 times, got outrebounded 47-39 and shot 33% from the field and 60% from the line.

"We shot 20 free throws, which I was encouraged about," Batchelor said. "But we have to do a better job of executing, playing more solid, knowing our assignments and I think we still just have a lot of kids that haven't played together and haven't played. Thisis the year they are required to step in and its been a struggle for them and for us as a coaching staff, but we have to keep working."

Eastern Shore juggled the starting lineup once again against the Hornets, with senior Dayona Godwin (Ocean Pines, Maryland) and junior Angelique Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia) getting their first starts of the year. The Hawks have now started 13 of the 16 players on the roster this season.

"It's tough," Batchelor said. "In the first half, I think we played 14 people. I don't think I have ever  done that before — played 14 people in 20 minutes. So we are searching. We are searching for a group of kids that not only play well together, but play well individually and I think that is something we are struggling with — finding kids that consistently play well. We are just going to keep working at it."

Junior Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) led the Hawks with 10 points in just 16 minutes — including the squads only two 3-pointers — off the bench to go along with three rebounds and a steal.

Senior Adrienne Jones (Baltimore, Maryland) added nine points, four boards, an assist and a steal also off the bench.

Freshmen Makayla Adams (Bowie, Maryland) and Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia) had five rebounds apiece to lead the Hawks. Sophomore Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina) added eight points and led the team in assists with three.

The Shore will next travel to Morgan State for a 2 p.m. road contest on Feb. 8, followed by another contest on Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Coppin State.