DURHAM, North Carolina — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is ready for Monday's road rematch against North Carolina Central, but nothing will be easy as it goes for a second win in a row.

The Hawks (8-14, 4-6 MEAC) got off to a hots start at home on Jan. 24 and then rode a 22-11 third quarter advantage to run away with an 81-59 victory. That game is not without an asterisk because the Eagles (4-16, 2-8) were without 6-foot-1 sophomore Tianna Carter (concussion) who leads the team in rebounding this season.

"They have a really prolific scorer — who is a freshman — (Diamond Thompson) who consistently puts the ball in the basket and she had five threes against us the first time," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "We have to get out and defend her, but I also think they have two very active post players who are going to be a challenge for us."

Carter and senior Ashlyn Lockard average a combined 18.4 points and 13.3 rebounds.

"I thought (Carter) being out was a huge loss for them," Batchelor said. "I think she had 13 rebounds and 17 points against Delaware State, so she is capable of changing the game and we didn't have to deal with her the first time we played. We are going to have our hands full particularly in the post with those two players.

Batchelor and his staff will look to utilize several post options to help counter Central's size.

"They pose some real problems because they are more athletic than our bigs and bigger than our athletic post players. It is going to be a challenge for us to neutralize them," Batchelor said. "But I think it is all going to be about effort — effort on the backboard and effort on position. If they are allowed to have their way in the paint without any physicality it is to their strength."

Batchelor would be happy to get the kind of defensive effort the team gave at South Carolina State in a 65-57 win on Saturday, but he also knows the team is going to have to score some points.

"I thought the first time we played them we defended very well," Batchelor said. "But they are a different team this time. If we can score is going to be the difference in all our games. We have shown that we can defend. There are little things we can still do better in defensive transition, communication, stopping the ball, but I like the commitment and mindset that we have right now defensively.

"Putting the ball in the basket is the other big part of it where no matter how well you defend, if you don't score, it is just a matter of time before the defense breaks."