SUMMARY

BALTIMORE – The game came down to the final 0.8 seconds, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks took a second win against Coppin State this season, 66-64, to push the Hawks to eight MEAC wins this season.

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (15-13, 8-3) - 66

Coppin State Eagles (9-19, 6-5) - 64

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first two minutes was a back-and-forth trade of points as UMES took a 5-4 lead at the 8:27 mark on a layup from Kalise Hill. However, the Eagles added a quick five points to give Coppin State a four-point lead before Lainey Allen responded for the Hawks with a jumper of her own before the Hawks pulled off a four-point swing of their own on a pair of free throws from Dayshawna Carter and jumper from Brianna Barnes to tie the score at 11. The remainder of the quarter played in similar fashion as the Eagles managed short spurts of offensive success, only to be matched by UMES. At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks trailed, 22-17.

Where the Hawks were playing in response to Coppin State's offensive success in the first, UMES flipped the script from the beginning of the second quarter and forced the Eagles to play catch up. UMES opened the second with a 8-0 run to take a 25-22 lead 2:10 into the quarter. From the point UMES took the lead at the 8:22 mark until the end of the game, the Hawks never trailed again. While Coppin State scored on a layup at 7:24, the Hawks opened up their lead even more as they put up a 9-0 run to take the lead 34-24 a little halfway through the second frame. The Hawks held Coppin State to six points in the second quarter as UMES scored 23 to take a 40-28 lead at halftime.

Though Coppin State scored the opening bucket of the second half, the Hawks scored four unanswered on another layup from Carter and a pair of free throws from Dakieran Turner to give the Hawks a 14-point lead. The third quarter remained closer as Coppin State outscored UMES 16-14, and the Eagles came within eight points at the 4:59 mark, but the Hawks maintained its hold on the lead and cemented their status as Ashanti Lynch closed the third quarter with a three-point play, closing out an and-one opportunity, to take a 54-41 lead into the final quarter.

Turner kicked off the fourth with a layup a minute in to give UMES a 12-point lead. Coppin State managed a 7-0 run through the middle minutes to cut it to within five points, but the Hawks kept the score out of reach as Kaliya Perry and Turner each sank a basket to push the Hawks to a 62-53 lead. The Eagles responded, however, by cutting further into the Hawks' lead as Coppin State closed the final minutes on a 8-0 run, tying the score for the first time since the Hawks took the lead at the 8:22 mark of the second quarter. With a tied 64-64 score and 19 seconds left, Lynch gave the Hawks the gamewinner with a driving basket for two with just 0.8 seconds remaining to win UMES the game, 66-64.

BY THE NUMBERS

Dayshawna Carter led all scorers with 22 points for the Hawks. She went a perfect 10-of-10 for free throws during the first half. She also notched a pair of steals and an assist in the win.

Dakieran Turner dropped 10 points while going 4-of-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. She added four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in the winning effort.

Freshman Kaliya Perry led the Hawks in rebounds with 10, marking the second time she has pulled down double digit rebounds this season. Perry also added eight points while blocking two shot attempts and grabbing two steals.

The Hawks forced 23 turnovers, 12 of which came on steals. UMES converted those turnovers to the tune of 26 points.

UMES made its free throw attempts count, sinking 15-of-19 (78.9%) compared to the Eagles 10-of–21 (47.6%). The Hawks put up the bulk of their free throws in the first half as they went 11-of-12 with Carter's 10 leading the way.

NEXT UP

The Hawks return home to Princess Anne for their final three games of the regular season. UMES will face North Carolina Central on Thursday, February 26, at 6 p.m. before hosting South Carolina State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, on Senior Night.