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Jan. 19, 2009 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Things are heating up for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) men’s and women’s basketball teams as they head deep into Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play. The Hawks started a three game road trip with tough losses to North Carolina A&T (NCAT), settling them into the middle of the conference pack. Juniors April McBride and Neal Pitt have been named UMES Athletes of the Week for the period ending January 11. This marks the second consecutive week the pair have received the honor. McBride, of the women's basketball team, helped the Lady Hawks to a 1-1 week. She notched her second double-double of the season in a 75-58 win over Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) January 10, finishing with 22 points and 12 boards - seven on the defensive glass - while shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 14-of-18 from the line. She also had two assists and one steal in 38 minutes against the Rams. Pitt, of the men's basketball team, finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds in a 69-66 home win against WSSU January 10. His team-leading third double-double of the season came while playing in 33 minutes against the Rams. ACADEMIC SERVICES Over 25 student-athletes at UMES will be recognized for their academic achievements this year. These standout scholar-athletes achieved at least a 3.5 GPA for both the fall 2008 semester, as well as, their cumulative average. According to Assistant Athletic Director of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Dr. Danita Mendez-Townsend, this is the first year of the athletic honor roll. She said, "in the past we just held a scholars luncheon. However, we wanted to do something more to formally recognize their achievements." Included in the list are members of the 2008 NCAA Championship bowling team, along with the 2008 MEAC women's volleyball Player of the Year Christina Estebané and Rookie of the Year Christine Edwards. A Dedicated 10 set themselves apart from the pack accomplishing a 4.0 last semester. MEN’S BASKETBALL
The UMES men's basketball team earned its second consecutive win, 66-63, over South Carolina State University (SCSU) at home in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. With the win, UMES (3-9, 1-1 MEAC), after winning Saturday against Winston-Salem State, picked back-to-back victories for the first time since Feb. 9-11, 2008 over Howard and Hampton. SCSU dropped to 6-7 and 1-1 in the conference with the loss. The win was also the first against SCSU since Feb. 16, 2004. Pitt scored a team-high 17 points and had six rebounds, while Jaime Boyer and Sammy Obetoh had 10 points apiece. NCAT shot 52.9 percent from the floor in the second half to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit to UMES, defeating the Hawks, 76-61, at the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C. The Hawks were led by Pitt with 16 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Keishawn Mayes, the only other Hawk in double digits, had 12 points and a game-high nine boards. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The women's basketball team led by as much as 18 points as they pushed past MEAC rival SCSU 73-61. The Lady Hawks (4-8, 1-1 MEAC) took care of the basketball tying a season low 13 turnovers and added a season-high 17 assists. McBride led UMES tying with a game-high 21 points. Casey Morton was the only other Lady Hawk in double digits, finishing with 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds. At home in the Corbett Sports Center, NCAT grabbed 17 steals to help them top UMES 82-46 Saturday afternoon in MEAC action. The UMES bench stepped up in a big way as the starters struggled from the floor throughout the matchup. Adobi Agbasi came in and led the Lady Hawks in points, setting a career-high, with nine and added five rebounds and a game-high four blocks. The 6-0 freshman also spent a career-high 30 minutes on the floor for UMES while fellow freshman Kanzes Battin led the team with seven rebounds and finished with six points. MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
The Hawks were one of 36 collegiate teams at the Maryland Invitational hosted by the University of Maryland at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center. UMES earned seven top-10 finishes in individual events from six athletes in their third meet of the season. Sophomore Thomas Keane-Dawes was the only Hawk to place in the top 10 in more than one event at the non-scoring meet. He was fourth in the 400 (50.43) and ninth in the 200 (22.63). Fellow sophomore Paul Jones-Burden was just ahead of Keane-Dawes in the 400, clocking in at 50.02 in third. Freshman Harrison Agbor-Eyong was second in the weight throw with a mark of 10.56 meters. Sophomore Peter Sang crossed sixth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:52.55 and senior Jamahl Strachan was eighth in the pole vault, jumping 1.93 meters. 2008 Beijing Olympian Allodin Fothergill was eighth in the 60-meter race in 6.98. UPCOMING COMPETITIONS The men’s and women’s basketball teams continue their road series, travelling to Norfolk, Va. on January 19 to face off against MEAC rival Norfolk State University. The Lady Hawks are set to tipoff at 6 p.m. with the men following immediately after. The men’s indoor team rejoins the women as they travel to New York, N.Y. for the Great Dane Classic on January 20. |
