The Short Story:  Wrapping up their first full home MEAC weekend, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team tamed the Bulldogs of South Carolina State with a 63-45 win at the Hytche Athletic Center on Monday evening. The win brought the Hawks' overall record to an even 10-10 while improving to 3-2 in the MEAC.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 63, S.C. State 45
Location: Princess Anne, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Bulldogs hit a layup a minute and 30 into the game, it was the Hawks in control over the next five minutes with a 13-1 run to jump out to a 15-5 lead, capped by a Mahogany Lester layup. A pair of SCSU free throws with 19 seconds left in the quarter cut the UMES lead down to eight, 17-9, as the teams headed to the second period.
• A 6-1 run to start the quarter by the Bulldogs saw the home lead dwindle down to just three points, just over two minutes in to the quarter. A pair of free throws by Lainey Allen started a 10-0 run over the next five and half minutes that was capped by an Ashanti Lynch jumper at 2:39, putting the Hawks back up by 13, 28-15. However, it was SCSU that closed out the period on a 7-0 run to pull within six at the halftime intermission.
• Unlike the first two quarters, it was the Hawks that got things started in the third period. After they maintained their six-point lead at the 8:02 mark, the Hawks went on an 8-0 run to push their advantage to their largest of the game at 14, 38-24, on a Chaniqwa Gilliam layup at 5:08. Ja'la Bannerman hit the game's first three pointer with 1:30 left in the period to put the Hawks up by 15 as UMES took a 15-point lead into the final period.
• The Hawks started the fourth much like the third by extending their lead up to 21 at 5:23 on a pair of Zamara Haynes free throws. UMES went on to answer each of the Bulldogs points the rest of the period and held on for the 63-45 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Lester led all scorers in the game with 15. Allen also reached double-figures with 12 points.
• Allen finished with a team-high seven rebounds as UMES led 36-24 on the boards
• The Hawks led the Bulldogs in points in the paint (40-22) and fast break points (13-1).
• After dropping their first two MEAC contests, the Hawks are on a current three-game MEAC
• SCSU was led by Taniya McGowan's 16 points and seven rebounds

UP NEXT

• UMES is on the road this Saturday, February 3 when they travel to the nation's capital for a MEAC showdown with Howard. Game time with the Bison is scheduled for 2 p.m.