The Short Story:  Avenging an earlier loss on the road, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team used a strong first half and kept Coppin State at bay to secure a 73-51 win in MEAC action on Monday night at the Hytche Athletic Center.

THE GAME FACTS
Score: UMES 73, Coppin State 51
Location: Princess Anne, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a quick start for the Eagles, jumping out to a 7-2 lead by the 8:00 mark. UMES responded with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game off a layup by Ariana Seawell at 5:03. Another 7-0 run by the Hawks pushed their lead up to 15-8. With 0.3 seconds left, Lesley Thomas collected a rebound and was fouled and made one of two free throws to give UMES the 18-11 lead after the first quarter.
• The first two minutes of the second period would see the Hawks push their lead up to 11, 24-13 on a free throw by Thomas at 8:13. It wouldn't be until 5:27 when the Eagles scored their next point on  a layup, but by then UMES built up a 31-15 lead. A pair of free throws by Jála Bannerman with 1:14 left and a layup with 43 seconds left put UMES up 42-18. A late three by CSU closed the gap to 42-21 as the teams headed to the locker room.
• The Eagles would come out six of the first eight points of the quarter to pull within 44-27 at 7:30. After the Hawks built their lead back up to 21, the Eagles went on an 8-0 run to pull within 13 before a layup by Cache Wilson at 3:50 started a 8-0 by the Hawks to force a CSU timeout with 2:24 left in the third. A layup by Zamara Haynes with 44 seconds left in the period gave the Hawks their biggest lead at 25, 61-36. An Eagle three with 31 seconds on the clock left brought the UMES lead down to its halftime advantage of 21.
• A pair of free throws to start the fourth and a layup at 8:49 saw the Hawks lead 65-41 before a 5-0 CSU run brought the visitors back within 19 at 7:23. The teams would trade baskets for most of the fourth with the Hawks leading by 22 with a minute left.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Both teams committed a high number of turnovers with the Hawks giving up the ball 17 times while the Eagles handed the ball UMES 21 times.
• Mya Thomas led the Hawks with 13 points and six rebounds.
• As a team UMES out rebounded the Eagles 34-30.
• UMES led Coppin St. in steals (10-6), points off turnovers (27-10), bench points (37-21), points in the paint (36-18).
• The Eagles were led by Faith Blackstone's 16 points and Laila Lawrence's double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).

UP NEXT

• The Hawks will next play on the road, Wednesday February 21 when they play a rescheduled game at Morgan State. Game time with the Bears.