The Short Story:  There might have been snow and slush on the ground outside, but inside Memorial Hall Gym on the campus of Delaware State, the Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball melted the competition with a 76-45 win over the Hornets in MEAC action on Saturday afternoon.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 76, Delaware State 45
Location: Dover, DE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a quick start for the Hawks as Chaniqwa Gilliam scored six points while Lainey Allen and Zamara Haynes each scored five in the first six minutes of the game; all while holding the Hornets to just three points over that span. By the ed of the first period, UMES build up a 25-8 lead over DSU.
• Much like the start of the first, the second was favor of the Hawks. UMES would extend their lead to 22 by the media timeout at 4:26 in the first half. Ja'la Bannerman hit a three to start and would have six by the quick media break. Back-to-back threes by Gilliam and Mya Thomas put the Hawks up by 28 with 2:26 showing on the clock. A quick steal with 11 seconds left and a pass that led to a floating layup by Mya Thomas as the buzzer sounded extended the UMES lead to 46-17 as the teams went to the locker room.
• It was a slower start to the third quarter for the Hawks, but UMES still managed to push their lead even further up to 32 points by the media break. The Hawks mad quick work over the next 90 seconds with a 7-0 to force the Hornets into calling a timeout. Eventually UMES pushed DSU to the brink with a 63-23 lead going into the final quarter.
• The Hornets took advantage of some Hawks miss shots and would outscore UMES 10-5 at the media timeout at 4:15. DSU would cut their deficit but not enough as UMES would tally their first MEAC win of the season, 76-45.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Thomas led all scorers and four Hawks in double-figures with 12 points.  Haynes, Bannerman, and Allen all reached double-digits with 11, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
• Mahogany Lester helped the Hawks out rebounds the Hornets, 46-25, with 10 boards, including six defensive and four offensive rebounds.
• The 17 first half points allowed by the Hawks was the fewest given up since UMES allowed just 14 in the second half of the game against Bryn Athyn on Dec. 30, 2022. It was also the fewest given up to a Div. I opponent since the Hawks defeated S.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2019 MEAC Tournament when the Bulldogs only scored 16 in the first half.
• The Hawk bench outscored Hornets 43-16.
• DSU was led by Kiarra Mcdlrath's 10 points and Noami Zulueta's seven rebounds.

UP NEXT

• UMES returns to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to play the conclusion of the game on Nov. 21. Due to a facility issue, the game was postponed at halftime with the Hawks leading 21-19.
• The Hawks return to the Hytche Athletic Center on Saturday, Jan. 27 when they welcome N.C. Central to Princess Anne. Game time with the Eagles is scheduled for 2 p.m. and is part of a MEAC doubleheader.