SAN JOSE, Costa Rica--For many of the young women from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team, the current foreign tour in Costa Rica is their first trip outside the United States.
 
However, head coach Fred Batchelor sees the benefits of the trip going way beyond sightseeing and hoops.
 
“We are just two days in and it has already been a great experience,” Batchelor said. “Basketball Travelers (the company who arranged the trip and games for Eastern Shore and does so for many other universities) does a great job of providing a system to do things well, setting up the meals, hotels, city tours, the games themselves. We are looking forward to the trip continuing, it’s been a beautiful experience and I believe it will be one of the most beneficial things our kids will get out of the whole year — what we do here in Costa Rica the next couple of days.”
 
While the experience will be about team bonding, shared experiences and gaining an appreciation for their own lifestyle, the lifestyle of those in a foreign country and the privilege of playing college athletics, at the core of the trip is basketball. The Hawks played that very thing on Sunday, facing Canada’s University of Ottawa. While the Hawks didn’t get the win in their first international exhibition game, they did gain precious time playing together and integrating a roster featuring four newcomers.
 
“I’m disappointed in the way we came out to play, but not completely surprised,” Batchelor said. “It’s the first game after just 10 days of practice and after traveling.”
 
The Hawks came out sluggish, not scoring in the first five minutes of the game. They were adjusting to the international rules, one of which was the smaller court and farther out 3-point line.  But what seemed to surprise the team the most was the physicality of the game. Associate head coach Sidney Raikes, who coached the game while Batchelor observed his team play from across the court, found that the toughest part to coach.
 
“The international rules themselves and the way they are officiated was a tough adjustment in terms of what a foul is and what is not,” Raikes said. “I understand physicality, but at times today it was borderline in some areas.”
 
The Hawks got going late in the first quarter to end the period trailing just 8-6 but Ottawa got hot and by half-time it was 32-14 with Ottawa outscoring the Hawks 8-1 in the first five minutes of the second quarter.
 
“I thought Ottawa was way ahead of us having done this trip and tour each of the last three years,” Batchelor said. “Even this year [Ottawa] already has a few games under their belt. But I thought we made some good runs in the game. I really saw a lot of things that will only help us in the future. Having Coach Raikes coach the game, allowed me to observe the game a whole different way.”
 
The Hawks made a run in the second half playing even the first five minutes and outscoring Ottawa in the third quarter 21-18. They cut the lead to eight in the fourth quarter on a couple of occasions, getting big plays from Ra’Jean Martin, Ciani Byrom and a pair of freshmen in Brooklyn Bailey andAdrienne Jones.
 
Ottawa would pull away at the end to win by 16, 66-50.
 
“I’d like to see more out of our senior backcourt,” Batchelor said. “Tomorrow night in particular, they need to give us more leadership and effective play.”
 
While Byrom added nine points, most coming late, fellow senior backcourt mate Keyera Eaton had just one. 
 
Martin led the Hawks with 10 points while the freshman Bailey added eight. Eaton and Bailey had four rebounds each to lead The Shore. The boards were a problem as the size of Ottawa gave it a 49-29 edge on the glass. Their hot shooting also was a factor, as they made an impressive 43 percent of their shots from the floor while Eastern Shore managed just 28 percent. Maryland Eastern Shore was putting on the pressure, forcing 26 Ottawa turnovers and converting 16 to steals.
 
“I think it’s difficult to get young people to understand how to mix business and pleasure,” Raikes said.  “What I mean by that is that while we are having a great time, and a great experience in Costa Rica, we still have games to play. They struggle turning that switch on when it’s time to play and I thought at times tonight, the switch was still off.
 
“That made it difficult to claw back and make a game of it. As I said to them in the locker room, enjoy your trip, it’s a great experience, learn from it, but we are here to conduct some business as well, and I am hoping tomorrow night they get that message and understand it.”
 
The Hawks will face the Costa Rican National Team Tuesday night at 6 p.m.