PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore held the lead over visiting Howard as late as the eight minute mark of the third quarter on Monday (Jan. 9). But the Bison made the plays they needed to at all the key moments moving forward and pulled away for a 56-47 victory.

"It's hard to win when you can't score more than 40 points," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "I thought Howard showed a championship level at some points in the game, when we kept challenging them and they kept rising to the challenge. Take nothing away from what they did, but we didn't play well enough to beat a team like that today."

UMES (4-12, 0-2 MEAC) put up a strong defensive effort for the second straight contest, but the execution was sometimes lacking particularly on the offensive end.

"Effort has to be the given," Batchelor said. "At the end of the day, you have to play better to win and you have got to have better guard play."

It was another tough outing for the backcourt as the Hawks' four primary guards finished 3-of-29 from the field with nine of the team's 15 turnovers.

Redshirt junior Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) was the biggest bright spot for the Hawks posting the team's first double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. She was also all over the court on defense challenging passes, drives and shots at every turn.

Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) finished with 13 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, but was in foul trouble much of the night and fouled out with 4:40 to go.

"I thought Mahogany and Ari — if Ari can stay out of foul trouble — played well," Batchelor said. "I was pleased with what we got from our posts."

The Hawks won the battle on the glass 29-22 and outscored Howard in the paint 20-6, but shot just 28% from the field and missed all 11 threes they attempted. Howard totaled 10 steals.

"I thought Howard played well when they needed to," Batchelor said. "They hit big shots when they needed them most and I thought our immaturity showed up. That's the growth process and we have to get over it."

UMES will host Delaware State on Saturday (Jan. 14) for a men's and women's doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.