PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — What a difference a few days can make.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore got off to a good start at home on Monday against North Carolina Central and then used a 22-11 third quarter advantage to run away with an 81-59 victory at home.
The Hawks (5-10, 1-2 MEAC) got big games in the back court from senior Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina) and junior Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia), while senior Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) and freshman Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) — who posted her first career double-double — led the front court.
"The fact that we shot 56% from the field is the biggest difference from one game to the next," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "I thought Brooklyn had one of her better games of the year — which we need. Guard play is huge in this league. I thought her and Mya played big, made some big shots for us and then the inside play and finishing buckets and shooting plus 50%. That was one of the things we wanted to do tonight and that was why we were fortunate enough to win."
Bailey scored 12 points off the bench to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Thomas had four assists, a steal, a rebound and 11 points — including nine in the third quarter. Clayborne reached double digits for the second time this season with 15 points — nine in the fourth quarter — four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.
Seawell had 12 points and pulled down 10 boards. She also blocked a pair of Eagles shots.
"I think it was just my guards feeding me and just the tempo of the game was more my speed," Seawell said. "I think that everybody was on the same page from the players to the coaches and even the managers. We were really up and we really wanted this one today.
"It's really big for us to get this win. Coming off a large run like that where it was a six-game losing streak, it kind of sets the tempo for the next two games this weekend and the rest of the season."
The freshman has played double-digit minutes in three straight games and has at least six points and six rebounds in all of them.
"She is a pleasure to coach," Batchelor said. "She's learning as she goes. She's like a puppy you bring home. You just see the potential in her. But her spirit is amazing. I feel like God has blessed me with the opportunity to coach a kid like her after everything she's gone through and everything she's been through since she's been here from getting hurt to having COVID and getting stuck here on Christmas. She's a hell of a kid. She's very resilient and she wants to be a player. She loves playing basketball."
The Shore got 40 points from the bench, scored 40 in the paint and outrebounded Central 47-29. All 12 healthy players on the roster played at least five minutes and scored at least two points.
Graduate student Bairesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky) was second on the team in rebounding with seven to go with four points and a pair of steals. Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) had eight points and five rebounds.
Eastern Shore will now attempt to build on this victory as they head to Coppin on Saturday (Jan. 29) at 2 p.m. and then host Morgan State on Monday (Jan. 31) at 5:30.
"I think it's a good feeling to have to get a win," Batchelor said. "We haven't won in a couple of months and its only our second Division I win, but I think it's something to build on. We have a long way to go.
"I told them that we are not the same team we were when we walked off the court in Norfolk two years ago. And the process of getting there is not going to be fun. It's going to be tough and you are not going to like it, you are not going to like me and you are not going to like what I am expecting from you. Our goal was not to beat Central.
"Our goal was to win a championship and we are not there yet, but we have to continue to work to get there."
