PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore found scoring to be difficult on Saturday against visiting South Carolina State, but will look to rebound from a poor shooting performance on Monday (Jan. 24) as it hosts Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe North Carolina Central (2-11, 1-3 MEAC).
The Eagles are coming off a 75-54 win in Dover on Saturday. Redshirt sophomore forward Tianna Carter recorded the first double-double of the season for North Carolina Central. Carter matched her season-high point total of 15 points while securing 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Junior guard Kira Lowery led the Eagles with a career-high 16 points and freshman guard Diamond Thomas scored in double digits for a fourth consecutive time by bucketing 12 points on four made 3-pointers.
Carter is not even the team's first scoring option with senior guard Nicole Hope leading the squad with 12.4 points per game to go with 5.2 rebounds. Freshman guard Diamond chips in 10.2 points per game and 7.3 rebounds and 6-foot-2 senior forward Ashlyn Lockard finishes out the formidable quartet.
Eastern Shore (4-10, 0-2 MEAC) has dropped each of its first two MEAC battles and looks to break a six-game losing streak that dates back to a Dec. 8 loss at LaSalle. Head coach Fred Batchelor made some changes to the rotation at the start of conference play with sophomore guard Cache' Wilson (Baltimore, Maryland) stepping into a starting role as well as senior forward Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland).
Freshman forward Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) has seen increased minutes over the same stretch playing a season-high 17 in the loss to the Bulldogs. Over the last two games, she has 13 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 29 total minutes.
Graduate student Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) leads the Hawks in scoring with 8.4 points per game to go along with 3.7 boards. She had a team-high 11 against South Carolina State, but struggled to find her shooting touch going 3-of-12 from the field and an uncharacteristic 4-of-7 form the free throw line.
Wilson led the team in rebounding the last time out with 11, while the team pulled down 48. They were doomed by 28% shooting from the field, 6% from three and 56% from the line.
After their third straight at home, the Hawks will travel to Coppin State on Saturday (Jan. 29) at 2 p.m. and then head to Morgan State on Jan. 31 for a 5:30 matchup.
