In the season opener for both teams, Morgan State topped Maryland Eastern Shore 77-71 despite two strong performances by Hawk sophomores. April McBride and Tiffany Reid poured in 20 and 21 points respectively but the Hawk defense let another sophomore Corin Adams, score a game high 23 to secure the win.
The two MEAC rivals opened their season in a non-conference contest, one head coach Fred Batchelor was hoping for a better result from.
“We aren’t experienced enough yet to understand what it means to open your season at home against a conference team, even if it doesn’t count in the standings. We got outplayed at every position tonight. [Reid and McBride] played great but we struggled to find another presence. This just shows we are young, we have a lot to learn and we have to get better. We have to work harder.”
As a team UMES (0-1) outshot the Lady Bears (44%-37.7%), were even in rebounding at 42, and were better at the charity stripe (72.4% to 58.6 %). But that didn’t translate to the final score as Adams poured in 23 points and Shalane Price added ten off the bench. Morgan State got 25 total points from their reserves while the Lady Hawks could muster just 18, including eight from senior Brittany Adkins
Freshmen Casey Morton added eight points. The Hawk freshmen were responsible for 14 points together, but also for 16 turnovers, one more than half of their team total, 30.
The Lady Bears (1-0) committed 21 miscues themselves.
“Our freshmen have to grow up quick, we are depending on them,” said Batchelor. “But I really think they are wonderful. We are relying on them a lot and putting them in a tough position. However, I am confident they will pull through and lead us to better things.”
UMES controlled most of the first half, carrying a 34-32 lead into the locker room. They led by as many as seven that period, taking a 19-12 advantage at the 7:17 mark on a McBride jumper. Morgan State quickly tied it just two minutes later as Price hit a jumper that would make it 22 all.
In the second frame the Hawks pushed their lead to five on a Reid three from the corner to open the scoring. Morgan again tied it a minute and a half later at 37. All in all the two teams traded the lead ten times. The Lady Bears were up as many as ten in the second half, the first time coming at the 13:40 mark on a Theresa Davis runner and the last at the 4:55 mark on a Danielle Scott floater. They led by ten a total of four times.
The Lady Hawks got it as close as four with 20 seconds to play on an Adkins lay-in but a pair of Price free throws clinched the 77-71 win for Morgan State.
UMES continues its long home stand with a match-up on Wednesday, November 14 against North Carolina Central at 7:00 pm.
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