NORFOLK, Virginia — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore fell behind No. 1 seed Howard 18-8 in the first quarter on Friday (March 11) in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament and —despite battling for the next three quarters — was never able to recover in a 68-54 loss.

"Congratulations to Howard and coach Grace," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "They were ready. They were well rested and they showed up with a lot of energy, particularly at the tip and I think we were challenged to match that and it kind of broke us down mentally."

Eastern Shore (12-16) started the game with two defensive stops and took the lead 2-0 on a bucket in the paint by Lesley Thomas (Browns Summit, North Carolina). But Howard Iyanna Warren answered with a three giving the Bison their first lead and providing the only lead change of the contest. By the time Batchelor took a timeout with his squad trailing 10-3, The Shore had gone 4:25 without a field goal and had three turnovers.

The team seemed rattled early by Howard's physicality combined with how the game was being officiated compared to their quarterfinal victory a day earlier. The two teams banged on the inside early and with Eastern Shore shorthanded inside because of injuries, the Bison began to impose their will.

"However the whistle goes it goes," Batchelor said. "It didn't go in our favor early on and I thought it really affected us mentally more than anything. I have never been in a game that seemed so close, but at the same time so far for 40 minutes."

The 19-year veteran didn't feel like his team was worn out physically from the win against Coppin, but the quick turnaround is never easy.

"It probably affected us more from an emotional standpoint than physically," he said. "It's tough and that's why you play the No. 1 seed. To turn around and have to play again in less than 24 hours — we've been there before and been able to do it, but it is tough. It takes a very different type of focus."

By the half, Batcheler was just hoping to have his team cut the lead to less than 10 after having it pushed to as many as 16 during the second. They had to settle to a 12-point deficit (25-37) and then regrouped at the break.

At the half, The Bison held an 18-9 advantage on the defensive glass, an 18-12 advantage in points in the paint and a 28-10 total rebounding advantage.

To start the third, it seemed as if The Shore may figure things out. A layup by Bairesha-Gill Miles (Lexington, Kentucky), was followed by Brooklyn Bailey's (Rock Hill, South Carolina) lone basket of the day and the lead was cut to just 37-30.

But Howard went on a 8-0 run over the next 4:16 to fund off another push. The Hawks would cut the lead to single digits one more time, but just never did enough to break through.

"I thought we got some looks that could have changed the tide of the game, particularly in the second half" Batchelor said. "Even in the fourth quarter, when we had a chance to break into single digits around the five minute-mark we just needed something good to happen and it never did."

Zamara Haynes (Philadelphia Pennsylvania) followed up Thursday's career day with 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting and was 4-of-8 from the free throw line . She added two rebounds and four assists. Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) had 13 points including three from deep and added four boards and a steal, while Angelique Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia) had a team-high eight rebounds

As a team, Eastern Shore shot just 27% from the field (19-of-71), 23% from behind the arc (7-of-31) and 50% from the free throw line (9-of-18). The Hawks were outrebounded 56-41 and most of that deficit came on the defensive glass where Howard held a 39-25 advantage.

"I thought we played a great game yesterday and we didn't play a bad game today," Batchelor said. "We lost the first quarter by 10 and every other quarter was the difference of a point. Really, when you look back I thought Howard was the better team. They were able to do what they wanted to do. They took control of the game from beginning to end. At the end of the day, it's a very difficult thing to accept, but the better team won."

The game was the last for five Hawks: Gill-Miles, Bailey, Carney, Taylor and Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland). Clayborne missed the game with an injury, while Gill-Miles had two points, two steals and seven rebounds. Bailey finished with four points, a rebound and an assist. Three of the five spent five years in the program.

"It's challenging dealing with this generation, but I love them," Batchelor said. "Amanda has been a Godsend. She's a great kid to coach and has a great spirit. They have all been good for me.

"Bunz (Gill-Miles) has been a case of greater-the-challenge, greater-the-reward and I'm proud of her and her development off the floor, being a graduate student after going through tough time academically and then finishing upper pretty strong in her undergrad. I think she is going to be prepared in a great way for the rest of her life.

"Angel (Taylor) is a hard worker and it's hard growing up with what these kids have had to go through and still have to go through, but she'll stick in and finish up her Master's degree and make us proud.

"Having Brooklyn for four years, she has been through a lot. She has been through some really challenging things on a personal level. I just appreciate her commitment to me personally. I know that that young lady has given me all that she could in challenging situations. I really appreciate her. She has been a joy to be around and is one of the kids I like to pick on the most for whatever reason and she says the least.

"Then there is Taylor, who was starting to play her best basketball when she tore her Achilles and had to end her career the way she did. I hated to see that happen to her, but I see a lot of growth particularly with her emotionally and she'll be fine physically.

"With these kids it's about growing up and the biggest lesson I hope they learn from being a part of our program is mental toughness beyond basketball and in life. I think they have learned that even sometimes when it doesn't look like it. I'm a true believer in all the work that they have done to develop and I'm proud to be their coach."