Women's Basketball | 2/4/2026 7:41:00 PM
SUMMARY
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore completed its third road game in the span of five games with a 73-53 win against South Carolina State.
THE SCORE
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (13-11, 6-1) - 73
South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-16, 2-4) - 53
HOW IT HAPPENED
UMES jumped out to an early lead as Kalise Hill put the Hawks on the board with a quick layup in the first minute of action. Following the opening bucket, both sides slowed down the pace as the Bulldogs scored a tying basket at the 7:50 mark before each side traded a pair of free throws to knot the score at 4-4 a minute and a half later. Though South Carolina State led by as much as five points just under two minutes remaining, the Hawks controlled the remainder of the first quarter, scoring six unanswered with Brianna Barnes adding a jumper and Hill four made free throws to lead 17-16.
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run of their own, only to be met with a 5-0 run from UMES courtesy Kaliya Perry and Hill. The quarter ran a similar path as the first with a tightly contested matchup. Though the Hawks were outscored 20-17 in the quarter, UMES saw offensive production come six players as Ashanti Lynch, Dayshawna Carter, Jailynn Clayton and Dakieran Turner got in on the action along with Hill and Perry. Heading into halftime, UMES trailed 36-34.
Through the third quarter, however, the game moved in the direction of the Hawks as UMES dominated the frame, 20-4. Throughout the entirety of the third quarter, UMES did not allow the Bulldogs a single point from the field (0-of-9 shooting), limiting South Carolina State to just four free throws. UMES opened the third on a 13-0 run through the first five minutes. It took until the 4:08 mark for the Bulldogs to get on the board for the quarter. UMES forced 12 turnovers in the third, scoring 17 points off of those. UMES led 54-40 heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter continued along the same pace as the third as the Hawks opened up on a 7-0 run with Lainey Allen and Lynch combining for a pair of free throws each before Lynch drilled a three to push the lead to 61-40. Lynch added another three a minute later before the Bulldogs knocked down a free throw for their first point of the quarter. However, Carter hit the third three of the fourth for UMES to continue to distance the Hawks from the Bulldogs, 67-41. UMES rounded out the final few minutes securing its win as the Hawks outscored South Carolina State 19-13 in the quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS
Ashanti Lynch scored a game-high 18 points to lead both teams while shooting 5-of-14 (35.7%) from the field, including 3-6 from beyond the three-point arc.
Kalise Hill and Dayshawna Carter each scored in double digits for UMES with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Dakieran Turner hit double digits rebounding with 11 on the night. She also added four points and three steals through the contest.
As a team, UMES outrebounded the Bulldogs 39-27 with Turner and Lainey Allen (9) leading the Hawks on the boards
UMES forced 32 turnovers while committing only 22. The Hawks also scored 27 points off those turnovers.
The Hawks stole the ball 19 times with Hill and Carter each racking up four, and Turner another three. It's the second most steals in a single game for the Hawks this season.
NEXT UP
The Hawks cap a four-game road trip with a 2 p.m. matchup Saturday, February 7, at Morgan State in Baltimore.