GAME PREVIEW: Hawks open season at Georgetown on Monday night

WASHINGTON, DC -  The University of Maryland Eastern Shore preparesto open the 2023-2024 season at Georgetown University on Monday night. The Hawks will tip-off against the Hoyas at 7 pm in the McDonough Center.


PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS: Coming off last year's 10-20 overall record and 5-9 mark in the MEAC, the Hawks were picked to finish fourth in the eight team MEAC standings. The predicted order of finish is as follows:

1. Norfolk State
2. Howard
3. Morgan State
4. Maryland Eastern Shore
5. Coppin State
6. North Carolina Central
7. Delaware State
8. South Carolina State


TOUGH TESTS TO BEGIN THE SEASON: The Hawks begin the season with tough tests on the road against Big East opponent Georgetown followed by a Wednesday trip to face the University of Virginia Cavaliers of the ACC. 


HAYNES NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MEAC FIRST TEAM: An All-MEAC Second Team selection after last season, Zamara Haynes led the Hawks in scoring and ranked 10th in MEAC averaging 11.1 points per game. The 5'7 guard from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania also led UMES with 84 assists and finished fourth in MEAC in assists per game (2.9). She was the team leader in made free throws (106) and was seventh in the MEAC in free throw percentage (.684).


ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Hawks return 11 players from last year's roster and welcome three new players to the program. Returners include Cache' Wilson, Mahogany Lester, Jala Bannerman, Mya Thomas, Ariana Seawell, Amiaya Morgan, Lesley Thomas, Ashanti Lynch and Lainey Allen. Newcomers to the team include graduate transfer Chaniqwa Gilliam (William & Mary) along with freshmen Amira Ofunniyin and Aysia Hinton.


COACHING STAFF: Fred Batchelor, who has the most wins of any UMES coach at 223, enters his 19th season as head coach of the Hawks. Former player and assistant Casey Monroe-Gaskins will serve as the associate head coach this year after being promoted over the summer. Amber Elliott joined the program in August as an assistant.


HAWKS AGAINST THE HOYAS: The Hoyas are 6-0 all-time against the Hawks and 4-0 at home. The last meeting was a 57-39 victory in Princess Anne during the 2019-20 campaign. The last meeting at home was a 74-55 victory to open the season in 2018.


FOLLOW MONDAY NIGHT'S HOOPS ACTION: Monday night's game will be show live on the Big East Digital Network (Flo Hoops) with live stats available on stats.statbroadcast.com/broa dcast/?id=490803