SUMMARY

NASHVILLE – In the first game of the Music City Classic, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore showed out as the Hawks earned a 62-56 win against Dayton after controlling the final three quarters for a third straight win.

THE SCORE

Dayton (4-2) - 56

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-2) - 62

HOW IT HAPPENED

From the opening tip, the game was a battle for control on both sides. Jayla Butler put the Hawks on the board first with a fastbreak jumper before Zamara Haynes added a free throw and another jumper before Dayton could score. UMES led nearly the entire quarter as Brianna Barnes and Haynes led the way with three points each. In the final 1:07, though, Dayton was able to tie the game before taking a 16-13 lead with a three-pointer to close out the period.

Through the second quarter UMES continued to pressure Dayton as Haynes forced her way to the basket for another seven points, shooting 3-of-6 from the field. Mahogany Lester also knocked down a three-pointer to help the Hawks outscore Dayton 12-10 through the period to pull within one at the end of the first half, 26-25. Similar to the Hawks' other games this season, UMES controlled the paint and rebounds, holding an 18-14 advantage.

The Hawks soared in the third quarter, taking a 47-43 lead behind a 22-point scoring effort from UMES. Haynes kicked it up with another eight points while Barnes and Butler added four and three points, respectively. UMES went on a 10-0 run through the first 3:10 of the second half to take the scoring advantage. Lester, meanwhile, helped control the boards with three of the Hawks' nine rebounds to Dayton's four.

Closing out the game, UMES held onto its advantage while outscoring Dayton, 15-13, for the third straight quarter. Haynes dropped another seven points with Barnes adding another three. Attempting a comeback, Dayton forced the Hawks to the charity stripe for a dozen shots, but UMES responded going 7-of-12 to hold off the Flyers.

BY THE NUMBERS

Zamara Haynes led the Hawks in scoring with 25 points, marking a season-high for the team. Haynes is averaging 16.8 points this season while shooting 42.4% from the floor.

UMES has led every opponent this season in rebounds with a 161-125 advantage for the season. In Monday's game, the Hawks outrebounded the Flyers 39-30.

Mahogany Lester and Lainey Allen tied for a game-high rebounds with seven each. Lester is averaging 7.5 rebounds this season with 45 total while Allen has collected 33 so far.

The Hawks' efforts to spread the ball around continues to show up with another double-digit assist outing with 10 against the Flyers after racking up 12 in their last game against Cheyney.

Brianna Barnes scored in the double digits for a second straight game with 10 points while pulling down four rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

In the Hawks' last three games, the team has shot 40% or better from the field, going 72-157.

COMMENTS FROM HAWK HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS

What does this win mean?

"It just means the work is paying off. We harp on the little things and we're starting to see it. We're seeing the box outs, taking care of the ball, moving the ball, and finishing. Execution with the offense, execution with the game plan, all of that is what we're starting to see."

On the physicality of the team.

"That was our statement from the beginning. They had to earn their practice jersey. And they were down for it. Every practice every week, we ask them if they did enough, give enough to earn it to be on this team, in this spotlight on this stage. We're showing it. We're talking about our identity also. We have to be aggressive and they're buying into it and believing it."

Improvement of the team

"Our rotations, though we have, in my mind, a million things we're being way too casual on, we're getting places and seeing it. When we talk about it in timeouts, they're self-reflecting and self-correcting. It's not an uphill battle to play the defensive rotation."

The approach playing Illinois

"The same way. We want to be the aggressors, we want to outrebound, we want to make it ugly and a little bit dirty. And then when we get up in there, hopefully we can hit a shot."

NEXT UP

The Hawks look to pick up where they left off with a second game in the Music City Classic with a matchup against No. 19 Illinois on Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. CT at Trevecca Nazarene's Trojan Fieldhouse.