Feb. 21, 2004
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The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team, winners of four straight conference games (and six of its last nine contests overall), continues a five-game home stand Saturday with a homecoming contest against Norfolk State at the Hytche Center. The Hawks (7-16, 6-8 MEAC) are coming off a 64-61 victory against defending conference champion South Carolina State Monday.
The Spartans come in one game ahead of UMES for seventh place in the MEAC standings with four games remaining for each team. Norfolk State beat the Hawks 67-54 at Echols Hall January 17th.
Scouting the Spartans
The Norfolk State Spartans enter Saturday's contest at 8-15 overall and 7-7 in MEAC play, one game ahead of UMES for seventh place in the conference.
The Spartans are coming off a dramatic 63-62 victory over FAMU Monday, as team-leader Chakowby Hicks hit the game-winning lay-in right before the final buzzer. The team is only 2-12 away from Norfolk this season, including a 2-6 road mark in the MEAC (they are 6-3 at home, 5-1 MEAC). One of the Spartans' home wins came against the Hawks on January 17th, 67-54.
Norfolk State, coached by second-year head man Dwight Freeman, went 10-8 in conference last season (6th place). The Spartans are paced by the junior guard Hicks, who leads the team in scoring (16.8 ppg, 4th in conference), assists (2.8 apg) and is second in rebounding (5.8 rpg).
News and Notes
Tee Trotter has now scored 1,810 points in his career at UMES, and needs only seven more to pass Levi Fountaine (1,816) for second-place on the school's all-time scoring list. Last week he passed Ken Simmons (1,748) to become the school's all-time Division-I scoring leader...Last Tuesday, Trotter was named MEAC Player of the Week by the conference for the third week in a row, after leading the Hawks to a 2-1 record. The senior is now averaging 18.6 ppg this season, which is second in the MEAC to FAMU's Terrence Woods (19.5). Tee is leading all conference players with 19.6 ppg in MEAC contests...It took UMES 22 games this season to better its win total from all of '02-'03 (7-16 now, 5-23 overall last season)...The Hawks have struggled from the field so far this season, coming into play Saturday shooting only 37% as a team...The Hawks have two family connections between players and coaches. Tee Trotter is head coach Thomas Trotter's son, while center Tim Parham is a cousin of assistant coach Paris Parham.
Four and Counting
Monday night the Hawks concluded their second-consecutive unbeaten weekend with a 64-61 upset of the defending MEAC champion South Carolina State Bulldogs at the Hytche Center. UMES won its fourth straight conference game and sixth in the last nine contests overall. It was the sixth straight MEAC contest for the Hawks that was decided in either the closing seconds of regulation or in overtime.
In a game that featured 15 ties, UMES (7-16, 6-8 MEAC) took the lead for good with 1:21 remaining on a free throw by Antoine Joiner. Then with UMES up by two points and time ticking down, South Carolina State (12-10, 9-4 MEAC) went to leading scorer Thurman Zimmerman (29 points), but Zimmerman missed a three-footer inside and Hawks forward Javes Wiggins was fouled with 14 seconds left.
After the senior hit one of two free throws, Brandon Trapp missed a three-point shot that would have tied the game and UMES held on for the victory. UMES got 21 points from Tee Trotter and 12 from Joiner to lead the offense, while Javes Wiggins pitched in seven points and seven rebounds.
UMES ROSTER AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Tee Trotter G 5'11 180 Sr. 18.6 2.1
During Hawks last nine games (6-3), averaging 25.0 ppg (225 pts) and all three weeks has been named MEAC Player of the Week...Hit GW shot with 4 sec. left to beat Howard 56-55 on 2/9...Only Hawk to start every game...Scored season-high 36 pts (12-21 FGs, 7-12 3's) at FAMU 1/31 (most pts scored in game by a Hawks player this season)....Second in MEAC in scoring last season (20.5 ppg)...MEAC second-team preseason selection, and candidate for Francis Pomery Naismith Award (for the nation's best player under 6'0).
32 Aaron Wellington G 5'11 160 So. 11.1 3.0
Scored only 8 pts (1-9 FGs, 6-6 FTs) vs. S.C. St....Scored season-high 23 pts, 18 coming in the second half, at Sav. St 1/29...Team's second-leading scorer so far this season and was also in '02-'03...Pure shooter with knack for scoring.
44 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Jr. 4.2 2.9
3 pts and 1 reb in 26 min vs. S.C. St...Tied career-high with 12 pts (5-9 FGs) in 35 min vs. Morgan St. 1/27...Shooting 31-110 FGs (28%) this season (9-45 3's-20%)...Transfer from Cecil C.C. averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds in '02-'03.
4 Javes Wiggins F 6'7 220 Sr. 5.0 6.5
7 pts, 7 rebs vs. S.C. St...Career-high 15 rebs vs. NC A&T 2/14...Season-high 14 pts at Del. St. 2/7...Leads team in rebounding, currently 5th in conference...Was team's leading rebounder in '02-'03, also third-leading returning scorer.
42 Tim Parham C 6'9 240 Jr. 6.0 3.4
3 pts, 2 rebs in only 11 min vs. S.C. St...Had 18 pts (6-7 FGs), 5 rebs, 4 blks in 25 min vs. NC A&T 2/14...Scored 20 pts (8-10 FGs) vs. PSU 12/27 (only 2nd D-I game)...Junior-college transfer joined team 12/20 after end of fall semester.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 DeWitt Scott G 6'6 200 Fr. 2.9 1.7
Played combined 19 min past 5 games (0 pts) after DNP the previous 4 games...Career high 9 pts, 11 rebs at Norfolk St. 1/17...True freshman from Chicago.
5 Lawrence Smith G 5'10 150 Jr. 0.6 0.4
4 assts, 0 TO's vs. S.C. St...Season-high 4 pts at Howard 2/9 and vs. Morgan St. 1/27...Defensive specialist with quick hands, serves as backup point guard.
10 Marcus Gutierrez G 6'4 185 So. 1.3 1.3
DNP (coach's decision) last ten games....Scored career-high 6 pts (3-5 FGs) in 12 min vs. Del St...Added to roster following conclusion of fall semester.
13 Kirk Wesley F 6'3 190 Sr. 0.6 0.1
Has 9 straight DNP's...Has seen limited action in nine of the team's 22 games...All 5 pts this season from foul line...Hard-nosed player with athletic ability.
14 Jermaul Akanbi G 6'2 165 So. 0.8 0.3
Has 9 straight DNP's...Has played in 4 games this season...Scored only FG of the season vs. Coppin State 1/24 (2 pts, 1 asst).
21 Antoine Joiner F 6'5 180 Jr. 3.8 2.7
12 pts (3-4 3's) in 32 min vs. S.C. St. in first start in 13 games (since 1/12 at S.C. St.)...Hit GW FTs w/ 9 sec. left at Sav. St. 1/29...Season-high 13 pts v. Del St 1/3...Shooting 25-76 FGs (33%) this season, but 20-23 FTs (87%).
25 Brandon Wilson G 6'4 190 R-Fr. 1.3 0.9
Scored 2 pts in 4 min vs. S.C. St., his first points in 7 games (at Sav. St 1/29)...Scored career-high 6 points at Ill...Red-shirt freshman from Long Island, NY.
33 Didier Socka F 6'7 225 Sr. 3.7 3.0
8 pts, 2 rebs in 24 min vs. S.C. St...Career-high 17 pts (8-10 FGs) in 19 min vs. BCC 2/2...Started first two games of season, came off bench in every game since....Returning leader in FG % (47%) and blocked shots (15) from '02-'03.
35 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 200 So. 0.0 0.8
11 straight DNP's (has not played since Norfolk St. game 1/17)...Played career-high 12 min at S Car St 1/12 (0 pts, 3 rebs, 2 blk)...No pts this season (0-3 FG).
55 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Jr. 2.6 3.1
0 pts combined in the last 15 games (includes 4 starts, 9 DNP)...Has started 9 of 23 games...Had only double-double of season (11 pts, 11 rebs) at RMU 12/21.
UMES Hawks (7-16, 6-8)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/2 Tm. Champ. (ex) W 58-54
11/14 One on One (ex) W 88-78
11/23 at Auburn L 61-85
12/11 at Illinois L 43-85
12/21 at Robert Morris L 63-70
12/27 Portland State L 61-80
12/30 Towson L 53-61
1/3 Delaware State* L 55-60
1/5 Howard* L 50-70
1/6 at Maryland L 38-87
1/10 at N.C. A&T* W 52-50
1/12 at S Carolina St* L 53-78
1/14 at Elon L 51-54
1/17 at Norfolk State* L 54-67
1/19 at Hampton* L 62-75
1/24 Coppin State* L 42-68
1/27 Morgan State* W 85-72
1/29 at Savannah St. W 62-61
1/31 at Florida A&M* L 74-79
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* L 70-71 (2OT)
2/7 at Delaware St.* W 69-66 (OT)
2/9 at Howard* W 56-55
2/12 Savannah State L 59-73
2/14 N.C. A&T* W 65-58 (OT)
2/16 S. Carolina St.* W 64-61
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/21 Norfolk State* 4:00
2/23 Hampton* 7:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 7:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 7:30
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*denotes MEAC conference game
Thomas Trotter- Head Coach
Head Coach Thomas Trotter is in his fourth season at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After a 5-23 season in 2002-03 and a 7-16 start this season, Trotter has a 35-73 overall record (.324 win pct.).
Before his stint at UMES, Trotter was the first assistant men's basketball coach at New Mexico State University from 1998-2000 under legendary coach Lou Henson, who is currently the 7th winningest Division I coach in NCAA history.
NMSU made postseason appearances in each of Trotter's two seasons as a coach, winning the Big West Championship and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to 3rd seeded Kentucky in 1999, then reaching the NIT in 2000 and falling to Arizona State in the first round.
For a ten-year span (1988-97), Trotter served as the first assistant men's basketball coach at Northeastern Illinois University, the winningest Division I program in Chicago three out of Trotter's final four years as a coach. Before his time at NEIU, Trotter spent two seasons coaching at the high school level.
Coach Trotter received his Bachelor of Arts degree in labor relations in 1985 from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In 1992 he obtained a Master of Science in educational administration, then in 1994 he obtained a Master of Science Education in education curriculum and instruction, each from Northwestern University.
Assistant Coaches
Paris Parham- Assistant Coach
Third-year assistant basketball coach Paris Parham came to UMES from Minnesota State University, where he served as an assistant coach from 1995-2001. 'Coach P' also served as assistant to the athletic director and a coordinator for the Maverick Academic Center at Minnesota State.
Parham was a player at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL, where he served as team captain in both of his playing seasons. He then went on to play at Minnesota State from 1993-1995, and was selected team captain in 1995. Parham was an all-conference selection in the North Central Conference that season. He ranks eighth all-time at Minnesota State in career assists.
Brian Kusnierz- Assistant Coach
Coach Brian Kusnierz is a third-year assistant coach with the UMES basketball program. He was previously at Concordia University in River Forest, IL, where he served two seasons as an assistant coach.
A three-year starter at Angelo State University in Texas, Kusnierz served as team captain for the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. An all-conference selection in 1998, he was voted as the team's Most Valuable Player. He finished his playing career ranked in the school's top three list in assists and steals.
The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks go for their fourth consecutive victory as they continue a five-game home stand with a MEAC contest against Norfolk State Saturday. The game tips off at 2:00 p.m. from the Hytche Center.
The Lady Hawks are coming off an impressive 94-61 win against S. Carolina St. Monday that was their third straight victory, all coming by more than 25 points. UMES, which beat the Lady Spartans 72-63 January 17th in Norfolk, needs a victory to tie the Spartans for 8th place in the conference standings.
News and Notes
During the Lady Hawks' current three-game winning streak, the team has been on fire offensively. The team is averaging 88 ppg (263 total) over the past three games, and has an average margin of victory of 31 points. During the streak UMES has outscored its opponents 145-81 in the second half...In spite of the Lady Hawks' sub-par conference record, nine of the team's 10 MEAC losses have come by 9 points or fewer. The team has led in the second half in 8 of those 10 losses...After a slow start to the season, UMES guard Laconia Hatcher has caught fire. Hatcher, who failed to score double-figures in any of the first five games this season, has scored in double-figures in 15 of the 18 games since, and is now the Lady Hawks' second-leading scorer at 12.7 ppg....Tiffany Winkfield recorded her 13th double-double of the season Monday against S. Carolina St. (20 pts, 12 rebs). The senior is leading UMES with both 14.0 ppg and 10.4 rpg (also leads the MEAC)....The Lady Hawks have been a second-half team in '03-'04. Despite the team's losing record, UMES has out-scored its opponents 854-783 in the second half this season.
Hawks Romp (Take Three)
Monday night the Lady Hawks picked up their third straight runaway victory, beating the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs 94-61 at the Hytche Center. As in the previous two victories during the streak, the game was close for a half before the UMES blew things open with a huge second half run.
UMES lead 35-26 after a sloppy first half in which the teams shot a combined 27% from the field and committed 22 combined turnovers. Laconia Hatcher hit three three-point shots in the half to help the Lady Hawks to the nine-point advantage.
The second-half was a different story however, as the Lady Hawks outscored S.C. St. 59-35. Octavia Thompson scored 17 second-half points, while Tiffany Winkfield scored 16 after halftime. It was the third straight enormous second half for UMES, who outscored Savannah State 45-25 in the second half last Thursday, then mauled North Carolina A&T 41-21 in the second half on Saturday.
For the third straight game Octavia Thompson paced the Lady Hawks in scoring, this time with 23 points, while Tiffany Winkfield added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
UMES Hawks (9-14, 4-10)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/15 NWBL Elite (ex) W 102-97
11/21 at Memphis L 63-89
11/23 at Ark-Pine Bluff W 77-60
11/28 vs. Louis.-Laf.# W 60-57
11/29 at Maryland# L 65-97
12/3 at St. Francis L 48-56
12/20 at Towson L 67-92
1/3 Delaware State* L 50-52
1/5 Howard* L 74-79
1/10 at N.C. A&T* L 61-68
1/12 at S. Carolina St* L 68-75
1/17 at Norfolk State* W 72-63
1/19 at Hampton* L 59-60
1/24 Coppin State* L 55-63
1/27 Morgan State* W 95-57
1/29 at Savannah St. W 65-57
1/31 at Florida A&M* L 60-63
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* L 61-70
2/4 American W 80-73
2/7 at Delaware St.* L 58-64
2/9 at Howard* L 74-88
2/12 Savannah State W 86-60
2/14 N.C. A&T* W 83-49
2/16 S. Carolina St.* W 94-61
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/21 Norfolk State* 2:00
2/23 Hampton* 5:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 5:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 5:30
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*Denotes MEAC conference game
# at Terrapin Classic, UMCP
Surina Dixon- Head Coach
Surina Dixon is in her fourth season as head coach for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Lady Hawks basketball team. Her teams have compiled a 38-71 overall record (.349 win pct.) to date, after starting 9-14 and having earned 12 victories in each of the past two seasons (after only five in 2000-01).
Prior to her arrival at UMES, Coach Dixon served as head assistant coach at Arkansas State University, where she helped guide the Lady Indians to their first ever Top 25 national ranking. Coach Dixon was also an assistant at Texas Southern University.
Before collegiate athletics, Coach Dixon coached for ten seasons in Memphis, Tennessee at Germantown Middle School. There Dixon won eight district and six county championships, had five undefeated seasons, and compiled an overall record of 165-29.
While transitioning to the college ranks, Dixon had an opportunity to both play and coach two seasons of professional basketball with the WBA's Memphis Blues. She has also worked as a coach and instructor at various camps, including the 2000 WNBA Houston Comets' training camp.
At Rosedale High School in Rosedale, Miss., Dixon captained both the basketball and track teams. She then played at Mississippi Valley State University, where she graduated in 1983. Dixon later obtained her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.
Assistant Coach
Destiney Avent- Assistant Coach
Destiney Avent is in her first season as an assistant coach at UMES. She has returned to her alma mater ('02) after spending one season as the head women's basketball coach at Montgomery Community College.
Avent played for two seasons at UMES. In 2002, she was named the UMES female student-athlete of the year, as well as team MVP. Before that, Avent played two seasons at Tallahassee Community College.
MEAC 2003-04 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Pts
1. Hampton (13) 413
2. Delaware St. (5) 385
3. Florida A&M 339
4. Bethune-Cook. 283
5. Howard (1) 261
6. MD East. Shore 203
7. S. Carolina St. 188
8. Coppin State 177
9. Norfolk State 143
10. N. Carolina A&T 119
11. Morgan State 33
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
All-MEAC First Team
G Yolanda Dixon, FAMU
G Mandy Clark, Delaware St.
F Lynetta Sullivan, Hampton
F LaKesha Wills, Coppin St.
C Kim Watson, FAMU
Second Team
G Terrell Waller, Delaware St.
G Katie Clark, Bethune-Cook.
F Tiffany Winkfield, UMES
F Lauren Forsthoff, Bethune-Cook
C Nicole Brathwaite, Hampton
-As selected in a preseason vote of MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors
