Box Score WASHINGTON, D.C. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore got off to a great start on Saturday afternoon at Howard University taking a 21-18 lead in the first quarter, pushing the advantage as high as 18 in the third quarter and holding on for a 66-59 victory.
Freshman center Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) poured in a career-high 20 points to lead the Hawks while senior Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina) added 15 and classmate Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) posted 12.
"I was really impressed with the play that we got from Ariana and I thought Brooklyn made some big shots today," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "We hope to take this momentum with us, so that we are playing the best kind of basketball we are capable of playing at this time. We needed this."
The Shore (6-12, 2-4 MEAC) started the game with yet another different starting lineup with Seawell making her first start alongside Zamara Haynes (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Cache' Wilson (Baltimore, Maryland), Angelique Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia) and Clayborne.
"I think we are trying to find ways to win," Batchelor said. "That was a different lineup and a different way we played. We played all three of our bigs today and I think we need to play that way. We need those kids on the floor because they give us a presence on the inside that you don't always see on the stat sheet."
Seawell did show up on the stat sheet early with six points and four boards at the half but was also saddled with a pair of fouls. Bailey led the way in the half with nine — all from deep in the first quarter.
"We talked about winning the first quarter," Batchelor said. "That is all I wanted them to focus on to start. I thought that gave us positive energy and momentum going forward. Even though we only scored nine in the second it didn't hurt us because we won the first quarter and that allowed us to go into the second half with a lead."
The Shore was on fire to start the third, pushing a 30-28 halftime lead to 53-22 with 3:08 left in the third thanks to a 25-4 run. Bailey's final bucket of the game had given the Hawks that lead, but Howard wasn't ready to quit.
The Bison battled back with a run of their own to cut the lead to 54-41 at the end of the third.
Seawell pushed the lead back to 15 points (56-41) with an offensive rebound and putback 30 seconds into the fourth and that would set the tone for the Hawks. She would score nine of the team's 12 points in the fourth with the last bucket coming on another offensive rebound with 40 seconds left.
"The last couple of games, I had a lot of turnovers, so I have been telling myself that I had to be more patient and have the game not to me and not try to force things myself," Seawell said. "I like to use my body to my advantage, especially against people who are smaller than me or the same size because I know that it can help my game."
Seawell's career day also included eight rebounds, two assists and a block. She was 6-of-8 from the free throw line and 7-of-8 from the field. She played a career-high 29 minutes (nine more than her previous high) including all 10 minutes of the decisive 4th quarter.
"I definitely feel like I am in better shape now than I was at the beginning of the season," Seawell said. "Before the conference season started, coach told me that MEAC play is a whole different league than non-conference play and that the game would come to be and is more suited to my playing style. As my minutes have increased, I have learned when to say-when and to ask for a sub."
The Hawks won the battle on the glass 39-37, shot 40% from the field, 46% from 3 (6-of-13) and 76% from the free throw line (16-of-21).
Clayborne left the game with 7:37 to go in the fourth after a non-contact injury, while Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia) also left the game after being kneed in the head.
"We caught Howard with some kids out, but we lost some along the way and I hope Taylor and Mya are going to be OK," Batchelor said.
Eastern Shore will return home to face Norfolk State on Monday (Feb. 7) at 5:30 p.m. in a rescheduled battle. On Wednesday (Feb. 9) the Hawks will travel to Delaware State for a 5:30 matchup that is part of a men's and women's doubleheader.
