Women's Basketball 2/9/2008 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Lady Hawks Rout Howard, Roll To A 105-87 Win

The Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) rolled to an easy 105-87 win against Howard as the Hawks continued their school-record winning streak with its seventh straight win.

They led by as many as 41 points and dominated the stat sheet, outrebounding the Bison by 30, 64-34, and shooting a blistering 53.2 percent for the game.

Howard allowed their opponent to score more than 90 points for their sixth straight game but did score a season high 87 on the Hawks. That can be attributed to the pressure defense that Howard put on the UMES second unit, forcing turnovers and converting shots late in the game. In all, they forced 26 Hawk miscues, and committed just 17 of
their own.

UMES used a slightly different starting line-up with senior Kristi Veltkamp assuming the starting center role, replacing Chena Parker who was out with an illness. The start pushed Veltkamp to her best game of the season with 16 points and nine rebounds. She was aggressive as well, contesting many shots and fouling out early in the second half.

Also aggressive was April McBride who posted her seventh double-double of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Tiffany Reid recorded 24 points, matching her career high.

She wasn't the only Lady Hawk posting career highs as Josephine McLane posted a career high 16 points. Freshmen Casey Morton also finished in double figures with 12 points but contributed more in the transition game, handling the Howard pressure and turning over the ball just once.

Howard led only one time, by a single point in the opening minute. From there UMES ran away to a lead as large as 33 in the half, the margin they would take to the locker room, 54-21 at the break.

The Hawks lead would be 41 mid-through the second half on a Veltkamp jumper that would make it 80-39 just under the 12 minute mark. From there Howard would begin cutting away as Batchelor entered many reserves and mixed up his line-ups.

UMES was beginning to allow the Bison to score but never stopped putting the ball in the basket themselves, as they reached the 100 point plateau for the first time since the 1991-92 season when they downed Bowie State 102-50.

McLane would be the one to put them over that hump as she drained a three from the left wing to make it 101-72 with 4:08 remaining.

Howard never quit, getting a jumper form Asha Santee with two seconds remaining to cut the lead under 20 for the first time since the 8:30 mark of the first half. UMES would win by a final of 105-87, a difference of 18.

Howard's Zykia Brown led them with 19 points while Shannon Carlisle matched her, also with 19. Santee added 17 points while Lonice Kenley had 13. Carlisle led Howard in rebounding with six.