STONY BROOK, New York — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has just two games remaining before it runs headlong into the start of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season on Jan. 7, but just one of those comes before the impending holiday break.
The Hawks (3-9) are on the road once again to face Stony Brook (5-5) in a 2 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
"They are an experienced, talented team," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "The roster is a bit top heavy, so they aren't very deep, but they have three double-digit scorers and a pretty effective backcourt. They are well coached and it is going to be a challenge with their defensive transition, which is something we have really been working on. This will be a good test for us."
The Hawks fell to La Salle at home 82-72 on Dec. 10 and have not played a game since because of some other tests — finals. But the Hawks have been working on finding a way to create more offense and part of that has been trying to create some easy basketball in transition with their defense. But this one will likely come down to the basics according to Batchelor.
"We need to rebound the ball," Batchelor said. "I think getting to the glass and easy buckets and turnovers are going to be the difference in the game, all else being equal. That is if we have a decent field goal percentage and free throw percentage."
UMES will be without starting guard Jála Bannerman (Baltimore, Maryland) who will miss the contest with an injury. The freshman had started the last and averaged a team-high 12 points during that stretch.
"That's going to hurt," Batchelor said. "But finally having Cache' Wilson (Baltimore, Maryland) back it is not as bad as if we didn't have her. Cache will start, so it didn't get any worse, but it didn't get any better."
The Hawks have been shorthanded in the backcourt for most of the season with Wilson — who started 15 games last season — out for the first nine games of this year. She has played just 27 total minutes over the last three games as she has been eased back into game action, but she will be relied upon more heavily against the Seawolves.
After the game, UMES will have a holiday break and then return to action on Jan. 30 at home at 6 p.m. against Division III Bryn Athyn in the final game before MEAC play.
"We are hoping to finish out the early part of the season before we go into conference play by playing better basketball," Batchelor said. "We have been inconsistent. We have played well and we have not played well. I'd like to see us play a 40-minute basketball game and close out the year with a really good effort on both ends of the floor."
