SUMMARY 

HACKENSACK, New Jersy — After a heavy scoring effort from Penn in the first quarter, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore was unable to overcome the early deficit at the FDU Christmas Classic. Ultimately, the Hawks lost to the Quakers 78-57. 

THE SCORE 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (7-9) - 57 

Penn (9-3) - 78 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Neither side got off to a quick start offensively as the Hawks were limited to a trio of free throws in the opening minutes while Penn was held scoreless until the 7:30 mark when the Quakers hit their own pair of shots at the charity stripe. However, those two points marked a 25-3 run through the remainder of the first quarter as the Hawks were limited to just one more free throw and one made basket from Ashanti Lynch in the final minute as the Hawks trailed 25-6 after one. 

The second quarter was more even keeled as UMES held the slight scoring advantage, 20-19, through the frame. Candela Sabater Sánchez kicked off the quarter with a quick layup while Lynch knocked down a three to follow. Desi Taylor and Sanchez continued the Hawks' sharpshooting from beyond the arc with a knockdown shot for both in the first three minutes of the second quarter. A pair of free throws from Dayshawna Carter cut the Quakers' lead down to 13, 32-19, but it would be the closest the Hawks would get as Penn took a 44-26 lead into halftime. 

Each side traded shots early in the second half as Kalise Hill, Taylor and Kaliya Perry put the Hawks on the board with some baskets in the first three minutes. Penn, though, continued to find its way to the basket as the Hawks trailed 18-14 in the quarter, and 62-40 at the end of the frame. 

The final quarter played out similarly to the second as the Hawks held a 17-16 scoring advantage. Once again UMES came out swinging as Jailynn Clayton hit from three while Hill dropped in another bucket. Penn continued to fight back, though, with an answer for each UMES basket as the Hawks were unable to upend the Quakers in New Jersey. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

While Penn held a 25-5 scoring advantage in the first quarter, the remaining three quarter came out in a highly contested 53-51 game. 

Both sides saw success in the paint rebounding as Penn held a 43-38 advantage over the Hawks. However, the Quakers were able to capitalize offensively down low as they outscored UMES 40-20 in the paint. 

Dayshawna Carter paced the Hawks in scoring with 13 points. She added four rebounds, three assists and a steal through the game. 

Kaliya Perry scored in double digits for the fourth time this season as she knocked in 12 points on 5-of-9 (55.6%) shooting. She added six rebounds, two steals and a block in the effort. 

UMES knocked down seven shots from beyond the three-point line, tying the team's best mark of the season. Desi Taylor and Jailynn Clayton each hit a pair while Ashanti Lynch, Candela Sabater Sánchez and Carter each knocked one in. 

The Hawks were put into foul trouble early on as UMES accounted for 22 personal fouls to Penn's 14 for the game.

NEXT UP 

UMES closes 2025 with a final game at the FDU Christmas Classic with a 4 p.m. matchup against the hosting FDU Knights.