PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was caught in a battle with visiting Delaware State for one quarter on Thursday night in the regular season finale. But the Hawks used a 15-4 run to close the second quarter and never looked back in a 66-48 win.

"It was a good team win," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "We scored 66 points and 13 players scored. I like the energy we had."

It was a night of celebration for five seniors who were playing their last home game in Maroon & Gray: Angelique Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia), Taylor Clayborne (Upper Marlboro, Maryland), Bariesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky), Amanda Carney (Old Bridge, New Jersey) and Brooklyn Bailey (Rock Hill, South Carolina).

"They have good chemistry amongst themselves," Batchelor said of his squad. "I think they really enjoy each other. I don't think I have had a group that I think enjoys each other as much as they do through the good and the bad. I am really pleased to be a part of a group like that because they make it worthwhile being around them because they enjoy being around each other."

In the early part of the season — perhaps due in part to opting out of last season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic — The Shore's team chemistry didn't show on the court as much as off. As the year went on that improved and so did the record. Eastern Shore (11-15, 7-7 MEAC) finished the season by winning six of its last nine contests.

"I think they actually genuinely care about each other and I'm excited to see them enjoy themselves," Batchelor said. "I tell them this is for them and I'm happy to see them happy."

At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks were holding a 17-16 advantage against the Hornets (0-23, 0-14) and as the first four minutes of the second ticked away they had built the lead to just 24-20.

However, they began by turning defense into offense forcing three turnovers and held the Hornets to just four points before the half for a 39-24 advantage at the game's midway point.

"I thought we kind of caught them on their heels a little bit," Batchelor said. "I thought they lost their focus and we were able to be aggressive. Coach Monroe-Gaskins made a good call on one of the defensive possessions that kind of got it going and from that point on we were able to run away with it. I thought that kind of put the game away with a lot of time to go."

In the second half, Batchelor did his best to use his bench and finished the game with 10 players who had at least 13 minutes of court time. The Shore won the battle on the boards 46-28, scored 34 points in the paint and 22 of turnovers.

Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) led the team in scoring with 11 points to go with seven rebounds and two steals. Bailey had 10 points, four assists and a steal. Gill-Miles chipped in eight points, six boards and a steal.

Jamaya Blanks (Greensboro, North Carolina) had seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Taylor finished with seven points, three boards and a pair of steals and Carney had five points, six rebounds and a steal.