DOVER, Delaware – The No. 18 University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks finished the MEAC No. 2 tournament with an undefeated, 7-0, record through traditional matches to secure the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Championship.
While recognizing UMES' Brooke Driver and Gabriella Ochoa Hubbard for senior day at the tournament, the Hawks saw a collective team effort en route to running the table across both days of the MEAC tournament in Delaware.
The Hawks kicked off Day 1 on Saturday with a 1,042-983 win against Delaware State as Aaliyah Friend posted a team-high 230 while Mariana Santos Rivero and Ochoa posted a 223 and 210 pinfall, respectively. Ara Pitts followed up with a 199 with Driver scoring a 180. In the first matchup of the first day, Friend, Rivero, Pitts and Driver each recorded their best individual games of the day.
In UMES' second match of the day, the Hawks beat Coppin State 920-865 with Ochoa leading with a 211. The Hawks followed that match with a narrow, 973-942, win against Norfolk State with Ochoa posting her day-high of 225 while Rivero also broke the 200-pin mark with a 208.
To close the first day, UMES beat Morgan State 950-873 with Mariane Almeida posting a team-high of 244 to help push the Hawks to an undefeated start of the tournament.
"We were able to fight through the transgression, and fight through the natural great moments and continue to stay the course and fill the frames," head coach Ron Simms said.
"There were a few times we got a little lost with the transition of the lanes, but we were able to stay in there and fill the frames until we could get our groove back. I'm just proud of the girls for continuing to stay together and continue to grow."
Sunday's competition saw much of the same for the Hawks as UMES pushed past UAB, 975-906, as Almeida and Rivero each topped 200 pins with 224 and 212, respectively. Friend added another 199 game while Driver posted a 189 and Ochoa a 151.
The Hawks continued their winning ways with a 943-854 victory against Howard as Friend and Driver led a contingent including Pitts, Almeida and Rivero while Friend posted a 190 and Driver a 211. This game was merely a precursor to the Hawks' best performance of the weekend wherein UMES defeated North Carolina A&T 1,048-1,022. Driver posted a 243 to lead the Hawks while Friend (220), Rivero (205), Almeida (197) and Ochoa (183) rounded out the game.
"Brooke didn't have it as much yesterday, but she came back big today. Gabby had it more yesterday, today was a struggle for her, but in that last match she stood up in the ninth and tenth and she threw four that we needed to help get over the hump," Simms said. "It's senior leadership. Seniors, there's no quit, there's no giving up. We're going to keep grinding until the last ball."
UMES finished the weekend with a 6,851 pinfall total while also securing the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 21-23. North Carolina A&T maintained its hold on the No. 1 seed for the MEAC Championship after finishing the two conference tournaments with a cumulative 12-2 record to the Hawks' 11-3 mark.
"Knowing we can handle our business, we know that North Carolina A&T is still top dog, but we've been able to raise our standard and close that gap," Simms said.
"From a confidence standard, we know that we can handle it, we can step up, we know that regardless of which five I put in we can get it done. As a team we're just building confidence in one another. To me, that's huge."
The Hawks will be in action next at the Stallings Invitational Feb. 28 through March 2 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
