PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore battled back against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference No. 2 Norfolk State repeatedly on Saturday, and were within one point (50-49) with 20 second left. But the Spartans managed to convert a three-point play on the ensuing possession and held on for a 53-51 victory.

"We lost a two-point game and missed 17 free throws," Hawks coach Fred Batchelor said. "I'm really proud of the way the kids played. They played extremely well. They fought with their backs against the wall for 40 minutes."

The Hawks (5-16, 1-6 MEAC) turned the ball over 20 times, but forced 23, won the battle on the glass 36-32 and made up for the 28% they shot from the field by grabbing 21 offensive boards.

But the number that stood out after was the 12-of-29 from the free throw line.

"We just continued to take the punches, continued to swing and fight back and I'm proud of them," Batchelor said. "I said I wouldn't want to go through this with any other group. As disappointing as this year has been, there is something special about this group and I'm really proud of how hard they played. We just can't continue to make it harder on ourselves by shooting ourselves in the foot with missed free throws."

Zamara Haynes (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) led all scorers with 15 points on 4-of-15 shooting and was 7-of-14 from the free throw line. She grabbed eight rebounds to go with six assists and two steals.

UMES will next travel to Howard on Monday for a 5:30 tipoff at Burr Gymnasium.