SUMMARY

The University of Maryland Shore stepped on the gas to open the game and never looked back as the Hawks earned a 70-29 win against South Carolina State at home.

THE SCORE

South Carolina State (21-4, 7-0 MEAC) - 29

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (9-16, 4-6) - 70

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ashanti Lynch put up the first points of the game with a quick layup five seconds into the game before the Hawks proceeded to outpace the visitors 22-7 in the first quarter. UMES held the Bulldogs to 20% shooting from the field while the Hawks hit 6-of-15. Lynch and Lester led the Hawks with six points apiece as Lester added a better of triples through the quarter. While the Bulldogs tied up the score on each team's first made basket, a pair of free throws opened up the barrage of points for the Hawks and a lead the team would not relinquish the remainder of the game.

The second quarter began much the same way the first did as Brianna Barnes quickly laid in a basket to open the scoring. Though South Carolina State put up the most points the Bulldogs had in any quarter, their 11 paled in comparison to UMES' best quarter of the game wherein the Hawks scored 27. Lynch continued to hold the hot hand with another 11 points, including a three, while Zamara Haynes and Aleah James followed up with six and four points, respectively. The Hawks led by as much as 34 points in the quarter while forcing nine turnovers and scoring 27 fastbreak points.

Out of the halftime break both sides slowed down the offensive momentum as UMES held a 9-6 scoring advantage in the third while limiting the Bulldogs' offensive efforts to only six free throws. UMES followed up a second quarter effort to spread minutes across the entirety of the roster as the Hawks bench scored 31 points through the third quarter.

The final quarter was a continuation of the Hawks efforts to spread minutes. Brianna Barnes paced UMES with 10 points in the quarter, including opening the frame with back-to-back threes. The Hawks again held the advantage in the quarter, 12-5.

BY THE NUMBERS

Brianna Barnes and Ashanti Lynch led the Hawks in scoring with 17 points apiece. Barnes added another seven rebounds and four steals while Lynch grabbed four boards, three assists and five steals.

The Hawks emptied their bench with 10 players of scoring of the 14 that saw minutes.

UMES held the rebounding advantage in the game, 36-23, while pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. The Hawks' control of the paint continued in the offensive end with UMES scoring 26 points in the paint to the Bulldogs' 10.

This marked the fourth game of the season the Hawks' scored 20-plus points from the free throw line. UMES went 21-of-27 from the line while drawing 24 personal fouls.

UMES marked the eighth straight game with double digit assists as the Hawks dished out 14 for the game. Zamara Haynes led the Hawks with four while Lynch and Jayla Butler each recorded three more.

NEXT UP

The Hawks play Wednesday at home against North Carolina Central at 5:30 p.m. in a makeup of the duo's weather postponement from the previous Saturday.