SUMMARY 

WICHITA, Kansas — Amidst the Hawks continued streak of games on the road, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore took control of its game against Wichita State late to earn a 56-52 win behind three players' double-digit point efforts. 

THE SCORE 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (6-5) - 56 

Wichita State Shockers (1-9) - 52

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The early minutes of the game each team circled each other, looking for an opening. The Shockers struck first at 9:07 with a second chance layup, but Ashanti Lynch responded in kind for UMES a minute later with a jumper of her own. Over the next few minutes, each shot one side made was met with an evened response as the Hawks remained within a one-point margin, 7-8, at the 5:30 mark before Wichita State found some momentum with six straight points before each side began to trade shots again. By the end of the first quarter the Hawks trailed 12-17 with Lynch and Brianna Barnes each scoring three while Lainey Allen and Dakieran Turner held down the paint with four and two rebounds, respectively. 

Early in the second quarter, each side traded shots in the first minute with Candela Sabater Sánchez hitting a quick jumper before being matched by the Shockers. However, a three from Sanchez and another layup from Lynch tied the game at 19 at the 7:20 mark. From there each side traded points with Lynch, Turner, Allen and Kalise Hill knocked down baskets as neither side could get more than a three-point lead through the 1:38 mark. Wichita State managed to finally spread out its lead with a jumper and free throw to give the Shockers a 31-27 lead with 40 seconds remaining. A free throw from Jaida Cameron and a fastbreak layup for Allen with a long pass from Hill put the Hawks within striking distance, 29-31. However, Wichita State drew a foul on a midcourt shot and sank all three shots to give the home team a 34-29 lead at the halftime break. 

Coming out of the break the Hawks immediately jumped into the fray, forcing the Shockers to contend with them in the paint. Allen drew an early foul, sinking both, while Turner and Lynch knocked in baskets to pull the Hawks within one, 35-36, in the first 1:30. Once again neither side relented as the scoring margin was held within three for the entirety of the quarter. Barnes and Allen piled on the pressure with six and five points, respectively, while the Hawks took over the paint with an 11-5 rebound advantage. The Hawks shot 50% from the field while limiting the Shockers to a 38.5% clip. 

While Wichita State grabbed the first points of the fourth, a layup from Allen brought the Hawks within one before Hill hit a dagger from beyond the arc to retake the lead for UMES, 49-47. On the flip side of the coin with the lead, the Hawks saw Wichita State mount a comeback effort and tie the score, but the Hawks were not to be denied as Barnes, Lynch and Allen piled on six straight to take a 55-49 lead with 2:43 remaining. Through those final minutes, UMES allowed a three from Wichita State, but otherwise prevented any easy looks for the Shockers as the Hawks held Wichita State scoreless for the final 1:32 while Desi Taylor put the game on ice for UMES with a final free throw in the waning moments of the game. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

Offense reigned supreme throughout the game as each side found success shooting. Through the first half, UMES went 12-of-28 (42.9%) while Wichita State went 12-24 (50%). In the second, though, the Hawks upped their game in the second half as they went 11-21 (52.4%) while holding Wichita State to 8-27 (29.6%). For the game, UMES finished 23-49 (46.9%) and limited the Shockers to 20-51 (39.2%). 

Lainey Allen led the team in points and rebounds with the double-double. Allen went 4-of-8 (50%) from the field while scoring a team-high 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. 

Brianna Barnes helped initiate the Hawks' second half momentum and tacked on eight points in half while totaling 11 points. She also added a pair of assists and rebounds while grabbing a steal. 

Reigning MEAC Player of the Week Ashanti Lynch was limited in minutes to 25 due to fouls, but still scored 10 points while pulling down nine rebounds and dashing cross court for one block. 

Kalise Hill and Dakieran Turner each scored seven points for the Hawks while Hill dished out a team-high eight assists while grabbing a pair of rebounds and a steal. Turner helped the Hawks take over the paint with eight rebounds of her won while earning an assist. 

With over half the total points in the game coming in the paint, the Hawks' presence down low was led by Allen, Lynch and Turner as UMES outrebounded the Shockers 37-27. 

Wichita State led the majority of the game as the Shockers held the lead for 27:41. The Hawks only held the lead for 9:15.

COMMENTS FROM HAWKS HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS 

Thoughts on the game 

"It definitely was a big win. When we went into shootaround today we said we had another chance to put our team, our university on the map. The more we play outside our conference – which is what we're doing the first two months – the more we have a chance to show what the MEAC is made of and really represent. It's a huge win. We started a little too slow, for me, but we're working on these things and we're a work in progress. But we find ways to get it done." 

Keeping focus through a close game 

"That's the beauty of our team. We don't expect to blow anybody out. We're prepared for single digit victories. It may go the other way also, but we work hard on getting stops, communicating and having the right rotations in. We're ready for that. Our expectation is to basically get it out of the mud."

Impact of Lainey Allen and Dakieran Turner in the post 

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Those are our two go-tos when we talk about the post position. They're playing together, side-by-side. Normally they split minutes, like last year, but I think they're doing a great job. The stuff that is not on the stat sheet, the stuff we focus on with our philosophies on offense and defense, they're locked in. They're the ones talking. Offensively, DK knows she's the point guard out there with everything we're going. She's like my security blanket out there. Defensively, Lainey is on the other side. They give me a lot of relief when they're on the floor, especially together." 

Brianna Barnes and Ashanti Lynch playing off one another through fouls 

"It's going to be a beautiful day when they're both out there together and they're both playing at their best. Right now, one is always in foul trouble and the other is always stepping up. They put a lot of pressure on the defense. Their skill set goes a long way. They just have to understand that people are preparing for them. This isn't last year or any other year in their college journey, this is their senior year and they have to understand what kind of pressure they're putting on other teams to prepare for them and stop bailing them out with fouls." 

Preparing for Oklahoma next 

"We've just got to get our legs underneath us. That game is going to be a dog fight. That team is well coached and they're among the top in the country. Offensively, they have weapons all over the floor. It's going to be a really big challenge for us, but we'll see how we're growing in different areas and how we can display that on the floor." 

NEXT UP 

UMES finishes its six-game stretch of games on the road at the University of Oklahoma at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, December 7.