SUMMARY

BALTIMORE – Capping a four-game stretch of road, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore earned its seventh MEAC win of the season, 66-53, at Morgan State Saturday. Three Hawks hit double digits scoring in the win in a rematch from January 3 when the Hawks earned a 68-61 win at home.

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (14-11, 7-1) - 66

Morgan State Bears (3-21, 2-6) - 53

HOW IT HAPPENED

It took nearly a minute and a half, but the Hawks took the first points of the game as Lainey Allen dropped in a layup. While Morgan State tied it a minute later, Dayshawna Carter and Allen dropped in back-to-back baskets to take a 6-2 lead with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter. While UMES took a 17-14 lead at the end of the quarter, the bulk of the scoring from both teams held off until the final three minutes. Brianna Barnes kicked off the scoring with a pair of free throws while Desi Taylor knocked down a three to take a 11-7 lead with 2:37 remaining. Over the final 1:35, UMES held a 6-4 scoring advantage as Ashanti Lynch scored the Hawks' final four points in the last 30 seconds.

Morgan State scored the opening basket of the second quarter, but it was quickly matched for UMES by Barnes. Offensive momentum came much quicker to begin the second as UMES outscored Morgan State 6-4 through the first two minutes as Dakieran Turner and Kalise Hill put up the following points for the Hawks. Midway through the quarter, UMES led 25-20 as Kaliya Perry also got in on the offensive action with her first basket. UMES finished the last 2:23 of the half on a 8-5 run to take a 33-26 lead into the break.

Dayshawna Carter kicked off the second half with a layup to give UMES a nine-point lead 11 seconds into the third. Though Morgan State responded with a field goal of its own, UMES limited the Bears to just free throws for the next several minutes while Hill added two points and Carter scored eight to take a 45-34 lead. The Bears went on a 6-0 run over the final 1:18, but a layup from Turner helped give UMES a 47-40 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Hawks opened the final quarter in the same fashion as the third as Lynch dropped in a quick bucket for a 49-40 lead. UMES earned a 6-2 advantage through the first 3:07 with Lynch scoring another basket while Taylor and Hill each knocked down a free throw to lead by 53-42. Through the middle of the first, the Hawks continued to pour into their lead with Allen and Turner hitting free throws before Lynch and Barnes each made their ways to the basket to take a 62-45 lead with 3:11 remaining. While Morgan State added a pair of threes, the Hawks clinched their win with another layup from Carter and a pair of free throws from Barnes.

BY THE NUMBERS

Three Hawks scored double digits in the win with Dayshawna Carter leading the way with 16 points. Brianna Barnes and Ashanti Lynch scored 15 and 10 points, respectively.

UMES racked up 12 steals with Barnes and Lynch each grabbing three while Kaliya Perry added another two to the total. Carter, Lainey Allen, Kalise Hill and Dakieran Turner each added one more.

The Hawks held the rebound advantage, 34-31, as Allen and Turner led UMES with eight each. Barnes added another seven to the Hawks' total.

For the 13th time this season, the Hawks shot 40% or better as UMES hit 41% of its shots against Morgan State. When shooting 40% or better, the Hawks are 9-4 this season.

The Hawks had their second best turnover margin in a game this season at +15 as they only turned the ball over 14 times to Morgan State's 29.

NEXT UP

The Hawks return home to the Hytche Center for a 6 p.m. Thursday matchup against Norfolk State. UMES earned a 63-60 win against the Spartans in the pair's first matchup on January 8.