SUMMARY
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore defeated Howard University 62-58 on Saturday afternoon to extend its conference record to 3-0 on the season.
The Hawks were led by Brianna Barnes who finished with 22 points, two steals and six rebounds. Kalise Hill ended the game with 11 points on 3-of-4 from the field and two steals.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (10-10, 3-0 MEAC) - 62
Howard (12-7, 2-1) - 56
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dakieran Turner broke the scoreless tie with a tip-in at the 8:15 mark, and Barnes followed with a fastbreak layup 15 seconds later to give the Hawks a 4–0 lead. UMES extended the advantage when Kalise Hill sank two free throws to make it 6–1. After six unanswered points from the Bison, Barnes continued her hot start with another layup in the paint off an assist from Ashanti Lynch, tying the score at eight apiece. The quarter's biggest run came late when Desi Taylor drained a three-pointer and converted the ensuing free throw after a foul, completing a four-point play to put UMES ahead 14–8. Howard responded with a 9–0 run to close the quarter to tie the game at 14 each.
In the second quarter, UMES erased an early three-point deficit as Dayshawna Carter opened the scoring for the Hawks with a layup to cut Howard's lead to 17–16. Barnes took over midway through the period as she converted a jumper and a layup to cut the deficit to 22–20. With contributions in the paint from Jailynn Clayton and Candela Sabater Sánchez, Barnes struck again with 1:34 remaining as she knocked down a 3-pointer to bring UMES within one at 26–25. Turner followed with a key tip-in to give the Hawks a 27–26 edge, but the Bison regained the lead with a pair of free throws to take a one-point advantage, 28-27 into halftime.
UMES chipped away at a six-point deficit in the third quarter, pulling within four at 43–39 heading into the final period behind contributions from Hill, Barnes and Kaliya Perry. Hill sparked the offense early, draining a three-pointer assisted by Lynch to cut the deficit to 31–30. Perry provided a boost inside as she converted a layup at the 5:07 mark off an assist from Carter to make it 35–34. Perry knocked down two free throws with 2:06 remaining, trimming the margin to 41–37. Lynch closed the quarter with a layup in the paint with 42 seconds left, assisted by Hill, to make it 41–39.
UMES erased an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter, outscoring Howard 23–13 over the final 10 minutes to claim a 62–56 victory. Lynch ignited the comeback with back-to-back layups at 7:39 and 7:14, the latter coming on a fastbreak following a Hill steal. Perry's tip-in at the 6:40 mark pulled the Hawks within three at 48–45. Hill tied the game 51–51 with a jumper to cap a 12–3 run. Lynch followed up as she knocked down two free throws at the 2:28 mark to give the Hawks the lead. Barnes sealed the win with a fastbreak layup off an assist from Perry and added four consecutive free throws in the final 28 seconds. Hill chipped in two free throws with 38 seconds remaining, and Turner added one at the buzzer to secure the 62–56 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
This is the first 3-0 start for the Hawks since 2018-19 season.
Brianna Barnes led all players in scoring with 22 points to go along with six rebounds and a pair of steals.
Kalise Hill was the second Hawk to hit double digits scoring with 11 points. She also added three rebounds, two steals and an assist to her night.
The Hawks held a shooting advantage over the Bison as UMES went 21-of-52 (40.4%) to Howard's 20-57 (35.1%).
Free throws proved pivotal as UMES made the most of its attempts from the charity stripe, knocking in 17-of-19 (89.5%) to Howard's 12-of-25 (48%).
The Hawks also took the advantage on the boards as they outrebounded Howard 45-34, including a 35-25 defensive rebound advantage.
UMES kept a fast paced attack as the Hawks scored 21 to Howard's six.
NEXT UP
UMES remains at home as the Hawks will host Coppin State at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
