UMES Lady Hawks Downed by Hampton

PRINCESS ANNE, MD—The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks (3-7, 0-1 MEAC) came into today’s game with the same record as defending MEAC Champions Hampton University (4-6, 1-0 MEAC). The only difference was that Hampton’s losses came to the likes of Duke, Old Dominion, Arkansas, and Kansas. UMES did not let that bother them as they put up a tough fight eventually dropping a 76-57 decision.

Octavia Thompson recorded 19 points while Tiffany Winkfield and Zereena Stephens each had 13. Antoinette Daniels led them in rebounding with a game high of eight.

The Lady Hawks came out going three-pointer for three-pointer with the Lady Pirates taking an 11-10 lead at the 14:55 mark on a three by Rachel Goodwin. After a see saw battle UMES would again take a one point lead 16-15 at 12:42. That would be their last lead as they would face a half-time deficit 0f 12, 37-25.

In the second half Hampton would pour it on running the lead up to 14 on a lay-up by Lynetta Sullivan. UMES would cut it to as few as eight but would get no closer. That would come on a jumper by Winkfield at the 13:32 mark of the second half. Hampton would on from there taking the lead to as many as 20 behind LaShrondra Dixon’s 27 point performance. Bianca Johnson would add 11 to help pace the Lady Pirates.

“We didn’t play defense or take care of the ball tonight,” said Head Coach Surina Dixon who was upset with the team’s 33 turnovers. That is the third most points we have given up this season and that shouldn’t happen in MEAC play,” she added. Hampton out-rebounded the Lady Hawks 43-39, a stat which usually goes in the Hawk’s favor by more than seven a game. They had 30 turnovers of their own but recorded 20 steals to UMES’S nine. The game took well over two hours to play because of an enormous 58 fouls. Twenty-six were called against Hampton to 32 on UMES. That led to two players form each team fouling out of the game.

The Lady Hawks hope for a cleaner performance on Monday when the host the Norfolk State Lady Spartans at 2:00 PM in the Hytche Center.