MEAC: Women’s Basketball Recap, Jan. 2

SUMMARY

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (5-10) was tested early by the visiting Lincoln Lions (5-9) before the Hawks closed out in dominant fashion to take a 55-39 win.

THE SCORE

Lincoln Lions (5-9) – 39

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (5-10) – 55

HOW IT HAPPENED

Opening the game, each side traded blows with neither side relenting in the opening frame as the Hawks maintained a 14-13 lead headed into the second quarter. Dakieran Turner and Brianna Barnes each knocked down four points while Ce’nara Skanes, Lainey Allen and Mahogany Lester each tallied a pair of points in the quarter. Six turnovers limited the Hawks from taking a larger lead, but a 15-6 rebound advantage helped UMES maintain its lead into the next frame.

The Hawks extended their lead with a 11-6 scoring advantage in the second quarter with Kiarra Kennedy leading the way with five points while Aleah James punched in another four. Both sides faced tough sledding shooting as UMES shot 25% while Lincoln was held to 12.5% from the field.

Coming out of the halftime break both sides found their shots falling with more regularity, though Lincoln’s 44.4% gave the Lions the opportunity to take a 17-11 scoring advantage in the third. UMES’ 38.5% shooting came as the Hawks hit 5-of-13 with Barnes putting up four more points while Turner added three and Skanes and Jayla Butler each notched another two.

The fourth quarter was all UMES as the Hawks outscored the Lions 19-3 while shooting 53.3% from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Likewise, UMES also maintained its rebounding advantage with its physical play in the paint with a 13-10 mark. Turner, Lester and Zamara Haynes each put up five points with Lester and Haynes adding a three to the Hawks’ barrage of points in the quarter. Barnes notched another four to round out her 12-point game.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Hawks’ play in the paint was buoyed by a season-high 53 rebounds. The Hawks’ 53-36 rebounding advantage was led by Turner and Barnes with nine and six, respectively. UMES owns a 594-511 rebounding advantage for the season against opponents.

Turner and Barnes also combined to lead the Hawks with 12 points each. With Turner added to the fray, the Hawks have had seven different leading scorers over their last eight games.

The depth of the Hawks’ bench continues to pay dividends as UMES’ bench added 18 points with six players scoring off the bench.

The Hawks shot just below their season average of 37.3% as they shot 36.7% on 22-of-60 shooting.

COMMENTS FROM HAWK HEAD COACH MALIKAH WILLIS

Fourth Quarter Effort

“We started off slow. So our whole message was to get our starters to wake up. I had to sit a few of them down, but they came back in the fourth ready.”

Developing Depth

“We’ve got 15 players on the team and I’m going to use them. They all want to play. Any given night, if it’s their opportunity, they’re going to step up; and they did. I wasn’t worried about playing a whole new five in the second quarter and starting three different guards in the third quarter.”

Performance from Dakieran Turner and Brianna Barnes

“Dakieran was a little hard on herself because she missed a few bunnies, but she was down there dominating. She was fighting hard in the paint. Brianna was trying to find and attack the gaps in the zone — they played us in zone the whole game. It took awhile for her to find her flow.”

Mahogany Lester’s Impact

“Mahogany, that’s just the glue. I put her in the three today because we just need her rebounding and her spark. She just got in, stood in the corner on offense and played defense on the other end. She’s just been great for us.”

NEXT UP

The Hawks go on the road to open MEAC play with a 2 p.m. game at Norfolk State on Saturday, Jan. 4, before returning home to the Hytche Center for a 5:30 p.m. game against Howard.