SUMMARY
CHICAGO – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore took an early lead against Loyola Chicago and despite the Ramblers' second half comeback efforts, the Hawks secured a 70-67 road win in the two programs' first-ever meeting.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (3-2) - 70
Loyola Chicago Ramblers (1-3) - 67
HOW IT HAPPENED
Loyola Chicago scored the first basket of the game with a three, but the Hawks responded quickly and emphatically as they ripped off a 19-2 run over the following eight minutes before capping the first quarter with a 22-13 lead. Dakieran Turner scored the first points of the contest for UMES with a turnaround jumper before Lainey Allen and Brianna Barnes scored off turnovers. A pair of free throws from Turner and another layup from Allen gave the Hawks a 10-5 lead halfway through the quarter. A three from Barnes followed by buckets from Allen and Ashanti Lynch continued to allow for UMES to spread out its lead. Barnes scored eight points through the quarter while Allen added another six and Turner four. The Hawks did the bulk of their damage in the paint with 12 points in the paint and nine points off turnovers.
The Hawks continued to roll through the second quarter with a 16-9 scoring advantage. Lynch got the scoring started in the second with a quick basket off another turnover. Loyola cut into the Hawks' lead with a few baskets, closing the gap to eight, 26-18, before Turner added another score before Dayshawna Carter scored her first points of the game with back-to-back jumpers. Candela Sabater Sánchez capped the UMES 8-0 run with a fastbreak score before adding a three with 1:15 remaining in the half. Kalise Hill capped the half with another score on a free throw to give UMES a 38-22 lead.
Following the break, the Ramblers mounted a comeback effort with four points in the opening minute before Allen answered by converting an and-one opportunity for the Hawks. Each side traded free throws throughout the quarter as the Hawks went 6-of-7 from the charity stripe and Loyola went 8-of-8. The Hawks had five players make their way to the basket for points in the quarter with Barnes leading with four. Allen, Carter and Kaliya Perry added another three while Lynch converted her only shot attempt for another two. UMES finished the quarter with a 53-48 lead.
The fourth quarter became a series of body blows for each side as they traded baskets and the lead remained close. Loyola hit the first basket of the fourth to cut the Hawks' lead down to three before Barnes knocked down her first two points of her eventual six in the quarter. The gap closed to just one point by the 6:54 mark before Allen extended the lead to three with a layup. At the 6:20 mark, Loyola tied the game at 60, though Allen hit another jumper to retake the lead, 62-60, for the Hawks. However, the Ramblers responded with a three for their first lead of the game since the opening minute, 63-62, with 5:14 remaining. Each side continued to trade points and the lead over the ensuing two minutes before the game came down to free throws and the Ramblers looked to cut down the Hawks' lead. Perry hit on two attempts while Hill and Barnes each added a made free throw to help seal the game for UMES.
BY THE NUMBERS
Brianna Barnes scored a team-best 20 points while adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Lainey Allen scored another 13 points while recording a double-double by pulling down 10 boards. The senior added three blocks, a steal and an assist in the win.
For the fourth straight game, the Hawks shot above 40%, going 26-of-58 (44.8%) from the floor. The team also shot its most efficient game from beyond the arc, going 3-of-9 (33.3%).
The UMES defense continued the familiar pressure exhibited throughout the season by forcing another 20 turnovers while scoring 21 off those turnovers.
UMES led for 35:48 of the game while there were five lead changes throughout the game.
The Hawks also scored 36 points in the paint.
COMMENTS FROM HAWK HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS
Production coming from across the entire roster
"I think that's really important. I'm glad that different players are stepping up. I need more consistency from the ones that stepped up the week before or game before. I would like to see it across the board and just add to it instead of different ones every game. I do think it is a treat to have that intensity on defense to help out on offense, it helps with easy layups and conversion plays."
Win's importance going forward
"I'm the challenge queen. I challenge everybody every game, it will be a different person or a different quote every time. This time it was 'adversity.' We had two games on the road and we had to fight through adversity. I think we did today. We got down, snapped out of it. The team was communicating a lot, the bench was communicating. They held each other accountable. That's how we pulled this out."
Team's ability to pull out a tightly contested game
"I do think they just need a challenge. The team is funny like that. We'll jump out, start swinging early and then we sit back and then we start swinging again. It's this momentum swing we have, but we're working on it because we have to put four quarters together, 40 minutes."
NEXT UP
The Hawks return to Princess Anne, Maryland, for a noon game against UMBC on Wednesday, Nov. 19. UMES will follow that up with an international trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis showcase with games against San Diego State on Nov. 22 and Princeton Nov. 23.
