Women's Basketball MEAC Media Relations

Lady Hawks Steal Game From FAMU, 45-38

"It's not what it seems," said Maryland Eastern Shore Associate Head Coach Revonda Whitley when the Lady Hawks opened their season 0-6.  Those words could not be truer.  UMES is now 7-9 and 3-2 in the MEAC after coming from behind to defeat Florida A&M 45-38 Saturday afternoon at home in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

 

This is the first time this season UMES has held an opponent to under 40 points and they tied a season high 14 steals in the process.

 

Casey Morton led the Lady Hawks, tying with a game-high 18 points.  The 2008 MEAC Rookie of the Year also had a career high five steals.  April McBride netted her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and tied for the game-high 10 rebounds while adding a game-high four blocks.

 

UMES got off to a great start, going up 8-2 on a jumper by Morton with 15:28 on the clock.  But the Lady Hawks then struggled from the floor as FAMU (7-9, 3-3 MEAC) went on a 13-2 run to take the lead 17-10 with 5:54 to go in the half.

 

Regrouping, UMES held FAMU scoreless for the remainder of the half, going on a 6-0 run to pull within one

point at the break.

 

As the second half began, the Lady Hawks went down by as much as five points before coming back. Morton hit a big three to tie the game up at 32 all over 10 minutes into the half.  She then stole the ball at half court and took it back for a layup giving UMES their first lead since minute nine of play.

 

FAMU's Melissa Daniels responded with a jumper to tie the game for the fourth and final time at 34-34 with 9:29 on the clock.  Freshman Kanzes Battin grabbed an offensive rebound after two UMES misses and hit a layup to put the Lady Hawks back on top.  They would steal the ball five more times in the final minutes of play to hold onto their lead and take the win.

 

Stephanie Foster tied Morton for the game-high 18 points and finished with seven rebounds. Antonia Bennett tied McBride for the game-high 10 rebounds and had seven points.

 

UMES will be back in action on January 26 at home against Bethune-Cookman.  Tipoff for the conference contest is set for 5:30 p.m.  Against the Wildcats, UMES is 8-1 under Head Coach Fred Batchelor and boast an undefeated record at home.