PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore's first game since the premature end of the 2019-20 season, didn't exactly go as planned.
The Hawks (0-1) looked at best rusty and at worst lost on their way to an 84-49 loss at Saint Joseph's which head coach Fred Batchlor said featured zero bright spots. The team relived the contest in a brutal film session on Thursday, but — after a few days of tough practice — are hoping that an all new November Homecoming contest against Division II Claflin is just what they need to revisit their past success.
Batchelor is expected to go with the same starting lineup on Saturday with graduate students Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) starting along with Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia) and Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina) in the backcourt.
Carney tied for the team high (11) in scoring in the loss at Saint Joseph's along with classmate Angelique Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia) whose 11 off the bench was a career high.
Graduate student Bairesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky) who pulled down a team-high eight rebounds Tuesday, will start at the four. Redshirt sophomore Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) who missed much of the second half of the first game after getting banged up should return to the starting lineup as well.
The Panthers have not played a game yet this season and are coached by Revonda Whitley, who spent 13 seasons as the Associate Head Coach on the bench alongside Batchelor.
Claflin also opted out of competition last season due to the CIVOD-19 Pandemic. In 2019-20 The Lady Panthers finished 1-26 overall and 1-17 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Junior guard Dionna Long was named to the 2021 CIAA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team It was a terrific sophomore season in 2019-20 — ended early due to injury — that led to the honor for the Lady Panthers junior. When she last took the court, she was the leading scorer on the Lady Panthers, averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. Of the 25 games that she played in, she reached double-digit scoring in 17 of them, including scoring a season-high 20 points against Bowie State.
Saturday's Homecoming contest begins at 2 p.m. and is part of a men's and women's doubleheader.
Attendees can bring a new unwrapped toy for a drive being held in conjunction with the MEAC and Toys for Tots through December 10. Drop boxes are located in the Student Services Center and in the lobby of the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.
