SUMMARY 

EMMITSBURG, Maryland — In the midst of a six-game stretch away from home, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore took the lead midway through the first quarter against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers and never looked back as the Hawks took the road win behind a career-best game from senior Ashanti Lynch. 

THE SCORE 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (5-4) - 67 

Mount St. Mary's (2-4) - 59 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

While the Mount struck first to open the game, Brianna Barnes gave the Hawks their first lead of the game at the 8:12 mark after hitting a floating jumper after adding the first points of the game for UMES on a free throw. Each side traded baskets over the next few minutes while Ashanti Lynch began to go on a tear, scoring the Hawks' next 14 straight points to help buoy the team's lead. Lainey Allen added the final points of the opening quarter with a layup to give UMES a 19-15 lead. Each side was efficient from the field in the quarter as UMES shot 50%, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while the Mountaineers finished the frame at 45.5%. 

Through the second quarter the Hawks continued to pour on the points, widening their lead as they outscored the Mount 22-15 in the period. Allen kicked off the scoring for the Hawks in what would become a pattern in the quarter as she added 10 points in the second. While the Mount opened the second quarter with a three to cut the Hawks' lead to one and eventually tied it at 20 after a free throw from Allen, Allen added another jumper off an assist from Lynch before Lynch turned around and added another basket of her own to extend the lead by four. Each side traded shots through the first five minutes of the second quarter before the Hawks outscored the Mountaineers 14-6 in the last five minutes of the quarter. By the end of the half, Lynch totaled 21 points, one-point away from tying her single game career-high. Candela Sabater Sanchez added a three while Kalise Hill also knocked down a pair of free throws as UMES led 41-30 at halftime. 

The third quarter played out somewhat closer as UMES continued to hold the offensive momentum with a 14-12 scoring advantage. Though the Mount sank a pair of baskets to open the third, Hill responded in kind with a pair of baskets of her own to hold a 45-34 lead with 6:39 left. Each side proceeded to trade baskets with the Mount cutting into the UMES lead to bring the game within eight points at its closest with 2:20 remaining in the third. However, freshman Desi Taylor hit a pair of threes in less than a minute in the final 1:10 to help strengthen the Hawks' lead once again. 

Maryland Eastern Shore continued to lay on the pressure in the fourth quarter. Between Hill, Sanchez and Lynch, the Hawks maintained some distance from the Mount as UMES held a 61-47 lead through the first five minutes of the final quarter. While the Mountaineers mounted a comeback effort in the final minutes, Taylor's third three of the game helped keep the Mount at bay with a 14-point margin. In the final few minutes, the Mount began to cut into the Hawks' lead, taking a 7-2 scoring advantage from 3:08 until just under a minute remained. However, the Hawks' defense kept the Mount from climbing any closer as the Hawks secured the win. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

Senior guard Ashanti Lynch scored a career best single-game high with 27 points in 36 minutes of action. She added five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals in the game. This is the second time Lynch has broken her previous best single-game scoring mark this season. 

Senior forward Lainey Allen added 14 points, one point away from tying her single game high in her career. It's the fourth time she's scored in double digits this season. Allen also recorded her second double-double of the year with 10 rebounds to go along with another block. 

For the third time this season, freshman guard Desi Taylor hit three shots from beyond the arc. She totaled nine points while adding four assists, three rebounds and two steals. 

UMES forced 17 turnovers and collected seven steals. Kalise Hill led the way with three while Taylor and Lynch each had two. The Hawks also scored 19 points off turnovers. 

The Hawks had their second best rebounding total this season with 41 boards, which also marked the team's second best rebound margin with nine as the Mount was held to the second fewest rebounds an opponent has grabbed against UMES this season. 

Maryland Eastern Shore also got a substantial boost from its bench as the Hawks scored 42 points coming off the bench. 

COMMENTS FROM HAWKS HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS 

Ashanti Lynch's performance 

"That's my X-factor. I'm still on her. She had 21 at halftime. It's fine, we won. But we've got to play a lot better a team. She's stepping up for us. It's her senior year, she's going to go out with a bang." 

Toughness of the team's schedule helping prepare for the remainder of the season 

"Absolutely. We've been in adverse situations every game. It's no blowouts, at halftime we're up or down a couple, we just have to fight through it and figure out how to get it done for 40 minutes." 

Game takeaways 

"We shot the ball well. I kept telling them that this team was going to play us a lot in zone, and our shooters just have to shoot. And they did that. I'm very proud of them for that effort. But we still have a long way to go." 

NEXT UP 

UMES remains on the road with a 2 p.m. matchup at the University of Virginia on Sunday, Nov. 30.