PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — University of Maryland Eastern Shore head coach Fred Batchelor was looking to shake things up against visiting Virginia Union on Tuesday (Nov. 29) at home, so he changed up the starting lineup and that seemed to light a bit of a fire in everyone.
The Hawks (2-6) pounded the ball inside in the first half and maintained their intensity in the second half on the way to a 76-60 win against Panthers.
"I thought the first group that normally didn't start gave us a level of energy and intensity, which I thought we needed to change," Batchelor said. "Sometimes you are going through a season and you just need a change."
The Hawks started freshman Jála Bannerman (Baltimore, Maryland), sophomore Lesley Thomas (Browns Summit, North Carolina), freshman Lainey Allen (Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania) and redshirt junior Makayla Adams (Bowie, Maryland) alongside regular starter Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia).
"I thought that was one of the reasons we got what we got out of some of the other kids today coming off the bench," Batchelor said. "They came out and played their best game together, even though they had started seven games together."
Sophomore Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) put up a season-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals. She scored 18 of those points on 8-of-9 shooting in the first half. Redshirt junior Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) added eight points, a career-high 6 assists, three rebounds and a steal.
"When you get both your two post players who came off the bench giving you 27 points between them, that's a pretty good production and the field goal percentage (12-of-18) was also pretty good," Batchelor said.
The night belonged to Bannerman, who scored a career-high 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting and also had a pair of assists and two rebounds in 26 minutes.
"I thought Jála was big tonight in her first start," Batchelor said. "She is kind of a combo guard, but we played her at the point and moved Mya over to the two. I thought she had a big game. She is learning every time she steps out on the floor. We are always on her about the mistakes that she makes, but she's a baller and she wants to make plays, so it was good to see her play well."
The Hawks shot 37% from the field, 19% from behind the arc and 71% from the free throw line. They were outrebounded 43-42, but forced 26 turnovers and had the highest assist total (15) of the season so far.
"It was huge for us taking care of the basketball — having only 12 turnovers in a 40-minute game," Batchelor said. "They didn't press us much, but I thought that showed to be the difference in the tempo of the game."
The Hawks travel to Navy on Dec. 1 (7 p.m.) and James Madison on Dec. 4 (2 p.m.).
