The Lady Hawks topped Delaware State (DSU) 61-55 in the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center for their sixth straight win, a school record and with it moved into a tie for second place with Hampton.

The name of the game was defense as the Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) held DSU's two leading scorers to just six points. In contrast the Hawks put four players in double figures.

Casey Morton took a tied game and put UMES up 58-55 with .34 seconds left in the game. With the score tied, Morton abandoned a called play as the defense shifted to open the lane and she took advantage of it, cruising to the rim, collecting the hoop and the harm and converted the old-fashioned three point play.

She would lead all scorers with 17 points.

That was the first UMES lead since the game was 7-6 in the first half.

Another freshman, Queenique Tyler was also a big factor in the game. It was her defense at the end of the game that stopped DSU. She forced a tough shot from Ashlee Burbage and the ball went off a Lady Hornet to the Hawks and DSU was forced to foul. Morton would be the recipient of the free throws, sinking a pair and Tyler would split a pair at the end that would make it a 61-55 UMES edge at the horn.

Tyler was also in double figures with 10 points.

Other than defense free throws were a big factor, as they were in the Coppin State win. UMES shot a scorching 90 percent in the second half from the free throw line and finished shooting 83.3 percent for the game, 25-30. UMES made as many shots from the charity stripe in the second half as DSU took all game.

UMES was down five at the break, 32-27 with DSU's top two players, Raquel Collier and Katreem Palmer being held scoreless. They would finish with six points between them. In fact, Palmer's first bucket came with under three minutes to play. Collier hit a runner under the ten minute mark of the second half but only added a pair of free throws for the remainder of the game.

DSU would outshoot the Lady Hawks 40.7 percent to 35.6 percent but the lock-down defense on Collier and Palmer, as well as the free throws proved to be a huge difference.

Keyhana Wakefield had 14 to lead DSU while Ashley Thompson added 11 points. Thea Littlepage had a game high nine rebounds.

For the Lady Hawks, McBride finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Tiffany Reid was also in double figures with 11 points.

The win sets a school-record for UMES with six straight wins. They had won five in a row once before in the 1991-92 season.

UMES now faces Howard on Saturday in a game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the Hytche Center.

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