SUMMARY
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore improved to 4–2 on the season with a 68–54 win over UMBC on Wednesday afternoon, led by 15 points from senior Ashanti Lynch, 14 from sophomore Kalise Hill and 11 from senior Lainey Allen.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-2) - 68
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2-3) - 54
HOW IT HAPPENED
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore set the tone early against UMBC with strong defense and quick pressure, opening the game on a 6–0 run. Lynch hit two free throws, Allen scored on a putback, and Hill finished a fastbreak layup to give the Hawks an early advantage. UMBC rallied to tie the game, but Allen knocked down two more free throws before senior Dakieran Turner added a jumper off a feed from Dayshawna Carter. Lynch scored twice in the final minutes, including a driving layup through contact and the ensuing free throw, to send the teams into the second quarter tied at 15.
UMES traded baskets early in the second before Lynch knifed into the lane to tie the game at 17–17, sparking a Hawks' run. Defensive stops and free throws from freshman Desi Taylor following a technical helped UMES settle in, with Hill pushing the Hawks ahead on a jumper and then drilling a three-pointer to make it 24–20. UMBC responded, but Turner added a putback and a free throw to restore a four-point lead. Carter contributed a surge of her own, hitting a three from the left side and converting two free throws to stretch the margin to 32–27 late in the quarter. Allen capped the half with a free throw, giving UMES a 33–27 advantage at halftime behind timely scoring and a string of defensive rebounds that controlled the pace.
UMES came out of the break with energy, turning early stops into points as Allen scored at the rim and Turner followed with a tip-in to push the lead to double digits, 37–27. The Hawks controlled the paint with Allen converting again off a feed from Hill and Hill adding a mid-range jumper to make it 41–29. Lynch extended the advantage on a fastbreak layup for a 14-point cushion. UMBC chipped away with a couple of threes and free throws, but UMES maintained its rhythm as Brianna Barnes hit a jumper and Lynch later added another mid-range shot, keeping the Hawks ahead, 47–41, entering the fourth quarter.
The Hawks closed out the game with a dominant fourth quarter, using defensive pressure and relentless paint scoring to pull away. Barnes opened the period with a free throw before Allen finished inside and Turner converted a steal into a fast-break layup to stretch the lead to 52–46. Allen blocked a jumper and snatched a rebound, while Barnes and Lynch pushed the margin to double digits with back-to-back layups. UMES continued to control the tempo as Perry scored through contact and Barnes drained a three off an Allen kick-out for a 61–48 advantage. Hill added a smooth jumper and later converted four free throws to keep the Hawks firmly in front, while Taylor chipped in two steals in the closing minutes to prevent any UMBC rally. Even as the Retrievers hit a late three and tip-in, UMES held firm, sealing a 68–54 win behind balanced scoring and smothering defense
BY THE NUMBERS
Maryland Eastern Shore had three players hit double-digits in scoring as Ashanti Lynch scored a game-high 15 while Kalise Hill and Lainey Allen scored 14 and 11, respectively.
Rebounding was a near 50-50 split as UMBC held a 40-39 rebound margin for the game. Dakieran Turner led UMES with 10 rebounds while also scoring nine points.
The Hawks grabbed double-digit steals for the fourth time this season with 13 against the Retrievers. Desi Taylor led the Hawks with four while Lynch nabbed three. Hill and Turner each added two more.
In the win, UMES had its most efficient game of the season from beyond the arc, hitting 37.5% from three while going 3-of-8 as Hill, Brianna Barnes and Dayshawna Carter each found the bottom of the net.
For the second consecutive year under head coach Malikah Willis, the Hawks have begun the year 4-2. The last time UMES women's basketball started 4-2 to begin a season was the 1997-1998 season.
The team also shot over 40% for the game for the fifth time this season. The Hawks went 24-of-54 (44.4%) against UMBC.
NEXT UP
UMES travels to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis showcase with games against San Diego State on Nov. 22 and Princeton on Nov. 23.
