Norfolk State freshman guard Marquilla Evans scored a game- and career-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, but it was not enough as Maryland Eastern Shore defeated Norfolk State 88-76 on Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall.

Evans was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line and ended the night with five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 34 minutes.

UMES (5-9, 2-2 MEAC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Amber Cook with 17:26 left in the first half, but Danelle Tate answered on the other end with a layup to get NSU (0-14, 0-5) on the board.

The Spartans cut the lead down to three, 9-6, on a bucket by Whitney Long with 14:21 left in the opening period. The Lady Hawks then went on a 22-9 run, capped by an April McBride layup with 6:22 left and took a 44-35 lead into half time.

The closest NSU could get in the second half was six, 57-51, but UMES would not be outdone and led by as many as 17, 82-65, in the second half.

NSU had trouble with fouling again, sending UMES to the free-throw line 48 times. The Lady Hawks connected on 29 of their free-throw attempts.

Casey Morton had 23 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the charity stripe and McBride added a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds for UMES.

For NSU, Tashawna Higgins had season-highs in points (15), steals (5) and assists (2), while Long scored 14 points and had a pair of rebounds and steals.

NSU hits the road to take on South Carolina State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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