SUMMARY 

NORMAN, Oklahoma — To wrap up the Hawks' six straight games on the road, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore made its way to No. 9 Oklahoma for an early season test. Despite the Hawks' early efforts, the Sooners took the game, 90-37.

THE SCORE 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (6-6) - 37 

No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners (9-1) - 90 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Sooners jumped out early on the Hawks with five points before Brianna Barnes got UMES on the board with a free throw. Oklahoma added another four points before Dakieran Turner cut into the lead with a layup before Ashanti Lynch drilled a three to put the Hawks within a 6-9 striking distance. Oklahoma, however, spent nearly the next four minutes widening its lead as the Hawks trailed 20-6 until Lainey Allen added a pair of free throws at the 1:50 mark for the Maryland Eastern Shore's next points. Lynch led UMES with five points in the first quarter while Jaida Cameron tacked on three as the Hawks trailed 27-13. 

In the second quarter, Oklahoma limited UMES to a single jumper from Allen as the Sooners took a 38-15 lead halfway through the frame. Enola Papin helped put the Hawks back on the board on the other side of the five-minute mark, though, with a long three. Through the second quarter the Hawks were limited to 2-of-15 (13.3%) from the field while Oklahoma took a 18-5 scoring advantage to lead 45-18 at halftime. 

The third quarter continued to fall the way of the Sooners as they got out of the frame with a 20-10 scoring advantage against the Hawks. Lynch and Kalise Hill put up a pair of buckets early in the second half with two points each in the first minutes. However, the Hawks would not score again until the 6:31 mark as Turner added a pair of free throws. Desi Taylor added a three for the Hawks before heading into the fourth quarter trailing 65-28. 

Capping the game in the fourth, UMES was outscored 25-9. Allen finished off her game with another four points and a pair of steals. Candela Sabater Sánchez added another pair of points alongside Lynch. The Hawks were held to three field goals in the final quarter, though added another three points off free throws. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

The Hawks finished the first half 4-of-26 (15.4%) while Oklahoma went 14-32 (43.8%) in the same span. For the game, UMES finished the game 10-56 (17.9%) and Oklahoma went 29-65 (44.6%). 

Ashanti Lynch led the Hawks in scoring, despite fouling out in the fourth. Lynch scored nine points while adding three rebounds, a block and a steal. 

Lainey Allen piled on pressure in the post against the Sooners' bigs as she scored eight points while pulling down seven rebounds. She also added an assist to go along with a defensive effort that resulted in a block and four steals. She led the Hawks in minutes with 29. 

UMES had its second-best game of the season in free throw efficiency as they hit on 77.8% attempts (14-18). 

The Hawks tied their season-high in turnovers with 28 against the Sooners while forcing 14 against Oklahoma. 

Through 12 games, the Hawks have now recorded 10 or more steals in a game with 10 coming against Oklahoma. Allen led the team with four while Lynch, Dakieran Turner, Enola Papin, Jaida Cameron, Candela Sabater Sánchez and Jailynn Clayton each recorded a steal.

COMMENTS FROM HAWKS HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS 

Thoughts on the game 

"Our team actually came out ready to play. They had good energy early on. This was a huge challenge for us, especially with us down a few bodies right now and limited in the post. But we came out, changed it up a lot. They were focused and tried to get it going on offense, but the length of this team really just bothered us." 

What does this type of game do for the team going forward? 

"I think this helps with our shot selection. We're a downhill team. We've got to get to our midrange game a little more and not get too deep and stuck in areas where we're not being effective at. Their length helps us see that we need to make better decisions when we are going downhill. We have to stride stop, kick out to open players or not get too deep."  

What have you seen from the team a dozen games into the season 

"I say all the time that we're a work in progress. I'm looking to see more consistency from our leaders, our upperclassman. I think Lainey is playing outstanding for us. She had a really hefty assignment today, and she started on one player and ended up on another because of foul trouble, and she didn't foul out of the game. She's playing great. But at this point we just have make sure we take everything as a lesson and getting better from it because this showed us a lot." 

Takeaways to continue carry over into the season 

"The consistency part. That's really it. Our team sees it. We make 10 field goals, we only shot eight or nine less field goals than them. We've got to hit them, we've got to stop being so casual with the ball, be purposeful out there with the intent to score, the intent to go get a basket." 

NEXT UP 

UMES returns home for a three-game span before a break over the holidays. The Hawks first host La Salle on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. before hosting Towson (Dec. 17) and Bloomfield College (Dec. 20).