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Dec. 22, 2008 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - 2008 is winding down as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women’s basketball team gets their first win of the season and a track and field star is named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week. Senior Saisha Woodward and junior Neal Pitt were named the UMES Athletes of the week for the period ending December 14. Woodward, a thrower on the track and field team, broke a school reord in the shot put at the UMES Lid-Litter meet at the William P. Hytche Center with a mark of 14.79 meters. She claimed the record, previously held by Dionne Wright since January 6, 2007, on her first attempt of the competition. She earned a second school record on the day in the weight throw, with a 13.72 meter effort. Pitt, a forward on the men’s basketball team, collected his second double-double of the season in the Hawks 75-60 loss to St. Bonaventure. He finished with 20 points on 8-21 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL For the second straight year, the UMES women's basketball team scratched out their first win of the season against North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The 71-66 win over the Lady Eagles breaks a six game losing streak and takes UMES into their last game of 2008 on a high note. "I feel good that we found a way to win a game that we didn't play very well in," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "I've got a saying about not peaking too early and I think we're definitely an example of that. We're not making anything easy on ourselves and to find a way to win a game like this on the road was good for us; it builds character." Four Lady Hawks hit double figures with Tiffany Reid leading the pack at a season-high18 points. April McBride finished with a season-high 14 points and freshman Kanzes Battin tied her season high eight rebounds while putting up 12 points, nearly netting a double-double. Casey Morton closes out the group with 10 points, a game-high three steals and tied her season high leading the team with six assists. WOMEN’S BOWLING
Just one semester, that's all it took. Maria Rodriguez, the super-sophomore from the UMES, played just one semester of collegiate bowling heading into this season, but that one semester had such an impact it pushed the Lady Hawks to the 2008 NCAA Championship and earned Rodriguez a second-team All-American selection. The All-American, however, isn't American at all; she is Colombian, one of two from the country on the UMES Women's Bowling Team. Her story, while unique, is becoming more commonplace and is chronicled in this month's Bowlers Journal in an article by Diandra Asbaty. Asbaty interviewed three members of Team Colombia, all who chose to bowl in college in the United States. Her article discusses the growth of international bowling, how it effects national teams and teams here in the U.S. Rodriguez comes from the same city as Rocio Restrepo, who bowls for club powerhouse Wichita State, which won the 2007 USBC National Championship. Asbaty also spoke with Paola Gomez who won an IBC national championship with Nebraska in 2001. Rodriguez spoke in the article about how coming to UMES gave her the chance to follow her dreams of getting an education and continuing bowling, where staying in Colombia she may have had to choose. She was quoted as saying, "If you really love bowling and you can't bowl as much in your country, there are many international bowlers competing for colleges in the United States that you can ask for advice. There are many colleges where you can get a good education, meet great people, and do what you were made to do." The article is in the December 2008 issue of Bowlers Journal, available now. TRACK AND FIELD UMES senior thrower Woodward was named MEAC track and field Athlete of the Week. Woodward set a pair of school records at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational on Dec.12 in the W.P. Hytche Center in the shot put and weight throw. In the shot put, Woodward's first attempt was good enough for 14.79 meters (48-06 ½ ft.) and a first-place finish, besting the previous mark of 14.58 (47-10 ft.). Woodward also took first in the weight toss with a throw of 13.72 meters (45 ft.). It was the first time the Hawks had competed in the event in their history. Sophomore distance runner Amon Kiprotich was also recognized by the conference for his performance in the men's 3,000-meters. Kiprotich was first in a time of 9:06.42. UPCOMING CONTESTS Women’s basketball will get another week and a half off before taking in MEAC rival Morgan State in non-conference play on December 30 at 5:30 p.m. in Baltimore, Md. The UMES track and field teams compete next at the Coach O Invitational on January 9. Women’s bowling travels next to the Mid-Winter Classic in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 16.
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