Jan. 19, 2006
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 1:50 pm Saturday
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The Women's Game
The second-place UMES Lady Hawks (5-8, 3-2 MEAC) begin a four-game road swing with a trip to Tallahassee, Florida to take on the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (6-9, 2-4) Saturday at Gaither Gym. The Lady Hawks were held to their lowest point total of the season and had their three-game winning streak snapped by Delaware State Monday, 65-51.
UMES may be missing three regular starters due to injury, senior co-captain Jamila Griffith and juniors Qiana Cheatham and Natalia Benton. Griffith has missed four straight while Cheatham, out for the season, has missed the past three. Benton will be a game-time decision. FAMU has dropped three straight coming in, including a 62-54 decision at S.C. St. Monday. The team is 5-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming to first-place Coppin State.
Injury Stricken
The Lady Hawks have been hit hard by the injury bug recently, having lost five players since the holiday season.
Most notable are the losses of forwards Jamila Griffith and Qiana Cheatham, two regular starters for UMES. Griffith, the team's leading rebounder, suffered internal injuries during the team's loss to Central Connecticut State Dec. 30, and is expected to miss at least three more weeks. Cheatham, fourth on the team in scoring, suffered a lower left leg fracture in practice Jan. 6. and will miss the remainder of the season.
Junior Natalia Benton has a right Achilles tendon injury and is questionable for the weekend. Red-shirt freshman Alicia Loxen sustained multiple left meniscus tears to the same knee she injured last season, and is out for the rest of this season. Before new years, forward Almalika Lemon suffered an injury to her right knee, but has been cleared to return Saturday.
News and Notes
Toni Kennedy has had a terrific start to her senior season. Kennedy is currently second in the conference in scoring, first in three-pointers made/game (3.5) and third in steals/game (3.0). She is averaging 18.8 ppg the last seven contests (150 pts). Kennedy won consecutive MEAC Player of the Week awards (the weeks ending Dec. 18 + 25) following career-high performances against Bucknell Dec. 17 (24 pts) and St. Francis (NY) Dec. 21 (28 pts)...
Freshman Tiffany Reid is averaging 11.3 ppg (45 pts) and 8.8 rpg (35 rebs) in her four starts filling in for the injured Jamila Griffith, including the first two double-doubles of her career and two MEAC Rookie of the Week awards. Reid has won that award three of the past four weeks (the weeks ending Dec. 25, Jan. 8 and Jan. 15)...
Sophomore Kristi Veltkamp has lived up to her billing as a Preseason MEAC First Team selection. She is currently second on the team in scoring (fifth in MEAC) and second in rebounding (T-5 MEAC). Veltkamp leads the conference in blocked shots (UMES leads the MEAC with 4.1 blocks/gm), and is second in FG pct...
UMES has been torching the nets this season, averaging 69 ppg (second MEAC). The Lady Hawks are leading the conference in FG pct. (38%), assists/game (14.2) and asst/turnover ratio (0.71/1), and are second in scoring margin (-0.8) and three-pointers/game (6.6)...
Free-throw shooting has hurt the Lady Hawks this season. UMES is 8th/11 in the MEAC in free throw percentage (59%)...
When UMES beat Hampton Jan. 7, it was the first road victory (and only the fifth total) against the Lady Pirates in school history.
The Lady Hawks 10-8 conference record last season gave the team its first winning MEAC season since 1997-'98 (12-6), a span of seven seasons...
LADY HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
0 Rachael Goodwin G 5'6 Sr. 4.6 3.4
Senior from Memphis, Tn....Played 1 1/2 seasons (2002-03, part of 2003-04) at UMES before sitting out last season, re-joined squad this summer...Played in a total of 35 games prior to `05-'06 (5.7 ppg career).
33 Toni Kennedy G 5'6 Sr. 16.3 2.8
Senior from Baltimore, Md. led Lady Hawks in scoring last season (10.0 ppg) after walking onto team...JUCO transfer from Labette C.C. (Parsons, Ks., `02-'03) and Grayson C.C. (Denison, Tx., `03-'04)...Played at Dunbar HS where she became school's all-time leading scorer (1,128 pts) and won three consecutive state championships (`00-'02).
34 Tiffany Reid G/F 5'9 Fr. 7.2 5.7
Freshman from Philadelphia, played at National Christian Academy (Ft. Washington, Md.) after starring at Strawberry Mansion HS in the Philly Public League...Made first-team all-Public League two consecutive seasons.
3 Kristi Veltkamp F/C 6'3 So. 14.5 6.5
Voted to Preseason All-MEAC First-Team...Sophomore from Hudsonville, Mi. finished second on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg) and rebounding (4.5 rpg) her freshman season...Won State and National Homeschool championships in 2003 for Lansing Homeschool (with teammate Alicia Loxen).
23 Natalia Benton F/C 6'3 Jr. 2.6 3.8
JUCO transfer from Monroe C.C. (Rochester, NY) where she won consecutive Division II NJCAA National Championships (`04, `05) and was named to the All-Tournament Team last season...Originally from Brooklyn, NY.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Brittany Adkins F 6'1 So. 3.0 3.1
Sophomore from Millsboro, De., played in 26 games freshman season...Played at Sussex Tech. HS where she made first-team all-state senior year.
10 DeVaughn Hailey G 5'5 Fr. 6.3 2.8
Freshman from Camden, NJ...Played at Woodrow Wilson HS, where she started for four seasons...Helped team win the South Jersey championship and the New Jersey Group III Tournament of Champions Final in 2005.
12 Jasmine Speed F 5'10 Fr. 0.0 0.0
Freshman from Chesterfield, Mi....Played at Anchor Bay HS.
*21 Qiana Cheatham F 5'10 Jr. 8.5 3.4
Junior from Baltimore, Md. out for remainder of season with lower left leg fracture suffered in practice Jan. 6...Started final six games of last season (11.2 ppg).
22 Adrienne Brown G 5'5 Fr. 1.0 0.0
Walk-on from Springdale, Md....Attended prep school at The Patterson School (Lenoir, NC) in 04-05...Played at Charles H. Flowers HS (Landover).
*24 Alicia Loxen G 5'6 Fr. 0.0 0.0
Red-shirt freshman from Owosso, Mi. out for rest of season with multiple meniscus tears in left knee (missed all of last season with a torn left ACL).
25 Daynese Stowe C 6'2 Sr. 2.1 1.8
Senior from Philadelphia, 2004 transfer from Florida C.C. (Jacksonville, Fl.)...Played in 26 games last season, averaged 4.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
32 Almalika Lemon F 6'1 Jr. 0.7 1.3
JUCO transfer missed five games with a right knee injury...Played at Frank Phillips College (Borger, Tx.) in `03-'04 and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Ok.) in `02-'03...Hails from Manhattan (St. Michael Academy).
*35 Jamila Griffith F 6'0 Sr. 12.0 3.1
Currently out with internal injuries suffered Dec. 30 against CCSU...Voted to Preseason All-MEAC Second-Team...Led team in rebounding last season (7.6 rpg), was third in scoring (8.3 ppg)...2003 transfer from Tallahassee C.C. (Tallahassee, Fl.), originally from Barbados (West Indies).
*Currently Inactive due to injury
The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team (4-11, 1-4) begins a four-game road swing with a match-up against the red-hot Florida A&M Rattlers (8-9, 4-2) Saturday in Tallahassee, Florida. The Hawks, losers of three straight coming in, fell to first-place Delaware State 70-67 Monday despite scoring 54 second-half points (they trailed 31-13 at halftime).
UMES, featuring nine freshman on its roster, has already doubled its entire win total from the 2004-'05 season (2-26). FAMU, led by preseason MEAC First Team selection Tony Tate, has won four of its last five contests including road victories at N.C. A&T and S.C. State last weekend. The Rattlers, 4-1 at home this season, are currently ineligible for postseason play this season (including the MEAC Tournament) due to a self-imposed ban.
Starting Slowly
The 2005-'06 Hawks have been plagued by slow starts this season. In 13 of the team's 15 games, UMES has fallen behind by at least seven points in the first 12 minutes (excluding 11.18 at UMBC and 12.3 at Morehead St.). In the first 12 minutes of those contests, the Hawks' average largest deficit is 13 points (172 pts total).
By in large, UMES has then out-played its opponent over the final 28 minutes. In eight of the aforementioned 13 games (including five straight), the Hawks outscored their opponent after the first 12 minutes (by an average of eight points, 65 total).
Three times this season UMES has fallen behind by double-digits prior to scoring a point- the Hawks trailed
14-0 at Rutgers, 17-0 at Norfolk St. and 15-0 vs. Del. St.
News and Notes
Freshman Troy Jackson is averaging 16.8 ppg the last four contests (67 pts), and was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for the week ending Jan. 8. He is scoring a team-high 15.0 ppg in MEAC games...
Freshman Ed Tyson is averaging 14.3 ppg the last six contests (86 total pts). Twice during that span, Tyson was named MEAC Rookie of the Week (the weeks ending Dec. 18 and 25)...
Senior Tim Parham has lived up to his billing as a Preseason MEAC Second Team selection. The senior currently leads the conference in rebounding, is tied for fifth in scoring and second in field goal percentage, and was named MEAC Player of the Week the week ending Dec. 25. Parham has already recorded seven double-doubles in 15 games this season. He led the MEAC with 11 in `04-'05...
Freshman point guard Jesse Brooks has already become one of the top distributors in the MEAC. He currently leads the conference in apg (5.1) and assist/turnover ratio (1.73/1). Brooks dished out a career-high 11 assists at Morehead State on Dec. 3...
Freshman guard Hagay Barav, who missed the first 11 games of the season with a left MCL sprain, dressed for the first time as a Hawk against N.C. A&T Jan. 4. He is averaging 4.5 ppg in four games...
Sophomore Ryan Leak suffered a torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus in his left knee at Howard Dec. 10. He will miss the remainder of the season...
UMES is shooting only 58% from the foul line (11th/11 in MEAC), and 39% on field goals (10th/11)...
When UMES improved to 2-5 on Dec. 3, it became the first time in four seasons that the squad picked up its second win before its 14th game. The Hawks had started three consecutive seasons at 1-12...
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
10 Jesse Brooks G 6'1 170 Fr. 6.7 3.4
Freshman from Severn, Md...Played last season at Notre Dame Prep School (Fitchburg, Ma.)...Played at Archbishop Spalding HS, where he finished 2nd all-time in assists and was a teammate of current UCONN star Rudy Gay.
5 Ed Tyson G 6'3 205 Fr. 11.0 2.8
Freshman from Baltimore, Md...Played at Walbrook HS where he won the 2005 Maryland class 4A state championship and was ranked amongst the top point guards in the state...Nicknamed and commonly referred to as "Butz."
44 Antonio McMillion F 6'5 210 Jr. 9.7 4.5
JUCO transfer from Colby C.C. (Colby, Ks.) where he averaged 15.6 ppg last season...Attended Central Connecticut St. (CCSU) from 2002-2004, but missed `02-'03 with eye injury and played only 7 games in `03-'04...Played at Randallstown HS where he won the Maryland class 3A state championship in 2002 (senior season) and was named Third-Team All-State.
42 Tim Parham F/C 6'9 240 Sr. 14.5 9.5
Voted to Preseason All-MEAC Second-Team...Led MEAC in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and double-doubles (11) last season...All 11 of his double-doubles came in last 19 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Announced eligibility for 2005 NBA Draft last April before withdrawing to return for senior season...Now in his third season playing at UMES...2003 transfer from Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, Ia) where he played one season (2001-'02).
1 Qavotstaraj Waddell C 6'11 240 Fr. 4.7 5.5
Red-shirt freshman from Norfolk, VA...Sat out last season to complete year in residence...Named preseason MEAC Top Newcomer by Street & Smith's College Basketball...Played at Coastal Christian Academy HS (Virginia Beach) where he played with NY Knicks' center Jackie Butler.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Dorian Pierce G 6'0 170 Fr. 0.9 0.8
Freshman from Jackson, Mi., played at Jackson HS...Originally from Detroit.
13 Art Valentine F 6'7 215 Jr. 0.9 0.9
JUCO transfer from Fulton-Montgomery C.C. (Johnstown, NY), where he averaged 16 ppg over his 2 seasons...Originally from Harlem, NY.
15 Troy Jackson G 6'3 175 Fr. 8.9 2.4
Freshman from Wilkes Barre, PA...Played at Laurinburg Prep School (Laurinburg, NC) in 2004-05, and before that at Scranton HS (Scranton, Pa.).
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Sr. 3.0 0.5
Walk-on from Philadelphia played in final 5 games of last season... Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched in 20 games (0-1, 9.89 ERA).
22 Shaun Warrick G 6'0 150 Fr. 0.0 0.0
Freshman walk-on from Philadelphia, played at Lutheran HS.
23 Hagay Barav G 6'3 195 Fr. 4.5 0.5
Freshman from Hertzeliya, Israel was activated after missing the first 11 games of season with a left MCL sprain...Served in Israeli Army three years.
24 C.J. Prince G 6'3 200 Fr. -- --
Freshman walk-on from Teaneck, NJ, played at Teaneck HS.
30 Tal Cohen F 6'8 230 So. 0.2 0.4
Played in 27 games last season...Sophomore from Hadera, Israel, played on the Israeli Junior National Team while in the Israeli Army for three years.
*32 Ryan Leak F 6'4 185 So. 3.0 2.0
Out for remainder of season with torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus suffered 12.10 at Howard...Played in 27 games last season, averaged 5.7 ppg.
45 Brandon Moore F 6'9 195 Fr. 0.0 0.9
Walk-on red-shirt freshman from Baltimore, Md (Southern HS)....Sat out last season to complete year in residence.
*Currently inactive due to injury
UMES Hawks (4-11, 1-4 MEAC)
2005-06 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/10 Davis & Elkins. (Ex) W 82-68
11/14 ^at #20 Iowa L 41-86
11/15 ^v. Utah Valley St. W 75-72 (OT)
11/18 at UMBC L 65-75
11/19 at St. John's L 40-77
11/25 Nicholls St. L 69-71
12/1 at Marshall L 56-66
12/3 at Morehead St. W 65-59
12/7 at Rutgers L 50-92
12/10 at Howard* L 68-79
12/17 at #15 George Wash. L 72-98
12/20 at Brown W 59-57
1/4 N.C. A&T* W 77-75 (OT)
1/7 at Hampton* L 64-73
1/9 at Norfolk State* L 62-74
1/16 Delaware State* L 67-70
Upcoming Games
Date Game Result
1/21 at Fla. A&M* 4:00 pm
1/23 at Beth-Cook.* 7:30 pm
1/28 at Morgan St.* 4:00 pm
1/30 at Coppin St.* 7:30 pm
2/4 Hampton* 4:00 pm
2/6 Norfolk St.* 7:30 pm
2/13 at Delaware St* 7:30 pm
2/18 Florida A&M* 4:00 pm
2/20 Beth.-Cookman* 7:30 pm
2/25 Morgan State* 4:00 pm
2/27 Coppin State* 7:30 pm
3/1 at S. Carolina St* 7:30 pm
3/4 Howard* 4:00 pm
3/6-11 MEAC Tourney TBA
*denotes MEAC conference game
^at Guardian's Classic (Iowa City)
Larry Lessett- Head Coach
Lawrence Lessett, Jr. is in his second season as head coach of the Hawks. While this position marks his debut as a Division I head coach, he has amassed almost thirty years of coaching experience from the high school level through the professional ranks.
Lessett came to Princess Anne after spending three years as a global scout for Magic Johnson International Basketball. Prior to that he served as head coach of the Magic City Snowbears of the International Basketball Association (IBA), where he coached the team to a franchise record in wins and a playoff appearance in his only season.
No stranger to the college ranks, Lessett has made several collegiate stops in his career, most recently as head basketball coach and athletic director of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. He has also served as an assistant coach at Mercer University, De Anza College, Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia College, Santa Barbara City College, Western New Mexico University, Loyola Marymount University and Cal State Northridge.
Lessett received a Bachelors degree in Physical Education from Cal State Northridge in 1983 and a Masters degree in Phys Ed and Health from Georgia College in 1991.
Assistant Coaches
Meredith Smith- Assistant Coach
Meredith Smith is in his second season as the first assistant men's basketball coach with the Hawks. He has returned to his alma mater after accumulating almost 30 years of high school coaching experience. Smith graduated from UMES, then Maryland State College, in 1975.
Smith became head coach men's basketball coach at Southern High School in Baltimore City in 1978 and held that position for 24 seasons. During that time he compiled a win-loss record of 414-145, giving him the second most victories in Baltimore City Public School history. Smith won 25 playoff games, including three Maryland State Championships, two Maryland Scholastic Association Conference Championships and a Baltimore City Championship in 1999-2000.
In 1993 the Baltimore Sun named Smith their "Coach of the Year." He holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary and Physical Education from UMES and a Master's degree from Coppin State University.
Bert DeSalvo- Assistant Coach
Bert DeSalvo is in his first year as an assistant coach for the Hawks, primarily responsible for film exchange and budgeting. He comes to UMES after serving one year as the Girls' Varsity Head Coach at Chariho High School in Rhode Island.
While at Chariho, DeSalvo led his team to a playoff appearance in 2004-'05 with an 11-14 overall record. From 2001-'04 he was the Boys' Junior Varsity Head Coach at South Kingstown High School (R.I.), leading his team to a co-division championship in 2001-'02. DeSalvo has also coached at the middle school level and for several AAU teams.
DeSalvo received a Batchelor's degree in History from the University of Rhode Island in 2002.
MEAC 2005-06 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Points
1. S Car. St. (10) 402
T-2.*Delaware St. (6) 370
T-2.Hampton (4) 370
4. Norfolk State 240
5. Florida A&M 238
6. Coppin State 230
7. Bethune-Cook. 202
8. N Carolina A&T 146
9. Morgan State 138
10. Howard 78
11. MD East-Shore 26
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
*2005 regular season and MEAC Tournament champion
Preseason MEAC First Team
G Antonio Webb, Beth-Cook.
G Tony Tate, Florida A&M
G Jahsha Blunt, Delaware St.
F Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
C Bruce Brown, Hampton
Second Team
G Tony Murphy, Norfolk St.
G Jeff Granger, Hampton
F Darius Glover, Florida A&M
F Tim Parham, UMES
F Brian Mason, SC St.
Preseason Player of the Year:
Bruce Brown, Hampton
-Selected in a vote by MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors
