Feb. 24, 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 third-place UMES Lady Hawks (12-11, 9-5 MEAC) go for a season's best fourth consecutive win and try to clinch a winning MEAC record for the second straight season as they host the Morgan State Lady Bears (5-18, 5-9) Saturday. The Lady Hawks, winners of ten of their last 14 after a 2-7 (0-1 MEAC) start, won three games in five days last week ending with a 37-point win over B-CC. UMES is in a stretch of playing seven of eight contests this month at home (and have won five straight at the Hytche Center).
The Lady Hawks' senior co-captain Jamila Griffith, who missed 13 games with internal injuries, played Monday for the first time since Dec. 30. Junior Qiana Cheatham, still out with a left leg fracture, has missed the past 13 contests. Morgan State, which swept home games against S.C. State and N.C. A&T last weekend, has finished in last place in the MEAC the past four seasons. Under the direction of new head coach Donald Beasley, the Lady Bears have already picked up their most wins in a season since `00-'01.
Turning the Tide
With a 12-11 record (9-5 MEAC), the Lady Hawks are reaching benchmarks for a basketball program that has lacked great success the past decade. A win Saturday would give the Lady Hawks 13 wins, the most for a UMES basketball team (men's or women's) in eight seasons (since the `97'-98 Lady Hawks went 16-11). The Lady Hawks are the seventh team to have a 12-win season since.
A victory Saturday would make the Lady Hawks the first UMES basketball team to go two games above. 500 overall in seven seasons (the `98-'99 Lady Hawks were 8-6). The squad has already become the first at UMES to be at or above .500 in February in eight seasons (since the aforementioned `97-'98 Lady Hawks).
The Lady Hawks can now become the first UMES team in eight seasons to go five games above .500 in the MEAC (`97-'98 women, 12-6). They are already the first at UMES in five seasons to go four games above .500 in conference (`00-'01 men, 5-1) and the first in four seasons to go three above (`01-'02 men, 5-2).
News and Notes
The last time a UMES basketball team had back-to-back winning MEAC seasons was 1996-'97 and `97-98, when the Lady Hawks went 11-7, then 12-6. The Lady Hawks 10-8 conference mark last season gave the team its first winning MEAC season since then...
The last time a UMES basketball team had a four-game win streak was 2003-'04, when the Lady Hawks picked up four straight from 2.12-2.21.
Former walk-on Toni Kennedy is leading the MEAC in scoring (16.4 ppg), is second in three-pointers/game (3.4, also third in the nation as of 2.21) and second in steals/game (3.0). Kennedy won consecutive MEAC Player of the Week awards for the weeks ending Dec. 18 + 25...
Freshman Tiffany Reid has started 14 straight games, and is averaging 9.1 ppg (128 pts) and 6.8 rpg (95 rebs) during that time. She has three MEAC Rookie of the Week awards (weeks ending 12.25, 1.8 + 1.15)...
Sophomore Kristi Veltkamp, second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaged only 9.5 pgg in the 13 games without Jamila Griffith 1.4- 2.18, compared to 15.6 ppg (156 pts) in her other ten games this season. Veltkamp leads the conference in blocked shots (2.5, UMES leads the MEAC with 4.4 blocks/gm), and in FG pct. (52%)...
The Lady Hawks averaged only 61 ppg in 14 games without Jamila Griffith this season, compared to 75 ppg in nine games (672 pts) with her. Overall, UMES is averaging 66 ppg (second in the MEAC). The Lady Hawks lead the conference assists/game (13.7) and asst/turnover ratio (0.66/1), are second in three-pointers/game (6.0), and third in FG pct. (39%) and scoring margin (+1.7)...
UMES is last in the MEAC in team free throw percentage (57%), and has shot 50% or less from the line in eight of its 23 games (3-5 record)...
The Lady Hawks' season sweep of Hampton was the first in program history. Dating back to last season UMES has beaten Hampton three consecutive times (after compiling a total of three wins prior to that streak)...
LADY HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
0 Rachael Goodwin G 5'6 Sr. 4.7 3.6
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. 16.4 2.9
Senior from Baltimore, Md. led team 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)...All-time leading scorer at Dunbar HS (1,128 pts), won three consecutive state championships (`00-'02).
34 Tiffany Reid F 5'9 Fr. 7.7 5.8
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. 12.2 6.3
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).
25 Daynese Stowe C 6'2 Sr. 4.1 3.0
Senior from Philadelphia missed three games (12/6- 12/17) with a lower back injury...2004 transfer from Florida C.C. (Jacksonville, Fl.)...Played in 26 games last season, averaged 4.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Brittany Adkins F 6'1 So. 3.3 3.1
Sophomore from Millsboro, De., played in 26 games her freshman season...Played at Sussex Tech. HS where she made first-team all-state senior year.
*2 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).
11 DeVaughn Hailey G 5'5 Fr. 6.2 3.2
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. 1.1 1.0
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. 0.9 0.5
Walk-on from Springdale, Md....Attended prep school at The Patterson School (Lenoir, NC) in 04-05...Played at Charles H. Flowers HS (Landover).
23 Natalia Benton F/C 6'3 Jr. 3.7 4.6
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.
32 Almalika Lemon F 6'1 Jr. 1.2 1.2
JUCO transfer missed five games (12/30- 1/16) with a right knee injury...Played at Frank Phillips College (Borger, Tx., `03-'04) and NE Oklahoma A&M (Miami, Ok., `02-'03)...Originally from Manhattan, NY.
35 Jamila Griffith F 6'0 Sr. 10.9 7.6
Missed 13 games (1.4- 2.18) 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.
*Currently Inactive due to injury
The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team (5-19, 2-12) begins a stretch of four games in eight days that will conclude the regular season with a match-up against the Morgan State Bears (3-22, 3-11) Saturday at the Hytche Center. The Hawks, losers of six straight (following a win against Morgan Jan 28) and 11 of their last 12 (after starting 4-8 overall, 1-1 MEAC), are playing six of their seven games this month in Princess Anne (they have lost five straight at home).
UMES, featuring seven freshman on its active roster, has more than doubled its entire win total from the 2004-'05 season (2-26). The Bears, led by guard Joseph McLean, are 3-4 following an 0-18 (0-7 MEAC) start to the season. Morgan, which lost close home decisions to S.C. St. and N.C. A&T last weekend, fell to the Hawks 76-67 in Baltimore Jan. 28. Troy Jackson scored a career-high 33 points (7-10 3's) to lead UMES.
Starting Slowly
The 2005-'06 Hawks have been plagued by slow starts this season. In 18 of the team's 24 games, UMES has fallen behind by at least six points in the first 12 minutes (excluding games against UMBC, Morehead St., B-CC (2x), Morgan, Hamp.). In the first 12 minutes of those 18 contests, the Hawks' average largest deficit is 12 points.
By in large, UMES has then out-played its opponent over the final 28 minutes. In ten of the aforementioned 18 games, the Hawks outscored their opponent after the first 12 minutes (by an average of eight points following the largest deficit, 79 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
Guard Ed Tyson has missed the past two games with a right high ankle sprain (his first missed games of the season). He remains day-to-day.
During its current six-game skid, UMES' three-pronged attack of freshman guards (Jesse Brooks, Tyson and Troy Jackson) has been quiet. After all three had scored in double figures for four consecutive games (1.16-1.28), only Brooks is averaging over 12.3 ppg the last six...
Jackson is averaging 12.3 ppg (74 pts) the past six games (and shooting only 35%, 27-77 FG's) after averaging 20.3 ppg the previous seven (and shooting 50%, 49-98 FG's). He has three times been named MEAC Rookie of the Week this season (the weeks ending Jan. 8, Jan. 29 + Feb. 19) and is scoring a team-high 16.0 ppg in MEAC contests...
Tyson was averaging 6.3 ppg (25 pts) his last four games (and shooting only 19%, 8-43 FG's) before his injury after averaging 14.7 ppg the previous eight (and shooting 45%, 45-100 FG's). Twice this season he was named MEAC Rookie of the Week (the weeks ending Dec. 18 + 25)...
Brooks leads the MEAC in apg (5.0) and in min/gm (36.0), and is 3rd in asst/to ratio (1.52/1). He is averaging 12.8 ppg the past ten (128 pts)...
Senior Tim Parham leads the conference in rebounding, is 11th in scoring and fourth in field goal pct, and was named MEAC Player of the Week (week ending Dec. 25). Parham has recorded 11 double-doubles in 24 games (he led the MEAC with 11 in `04-'05)...
The Hawks are fifth in the MEAC in scoring (65 ppg), but are 10th/11 in points allowed (76 ppg). UMES is shooting only 60% from the foul line (10th/11 in MEAC), and 40% on field goals (10th/11)...
Ryan Leak suffered a torn left ACL, MCL and medial meniscus at Howard Dec. 10, and is out for the season...
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...
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
10 Jesse Brooks G 6'1 170 Fr. 9.0 3.2
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.
15 Troy Jackson G 6'3 175 Fr. 11.8 3.1
Freshman from Wilkes Barre, PA...Played at Laurinburg Prep School (Laurinburg, NC) in 2004-05, and before that at Scranton HS (Scranton, Pa.).
44 Antonio McMillion F 6'5 210 Jr. 11.0 4.1
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. 13.2 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 those 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. 4.5 5.3
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 teamed 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., academically ineligible as of January 30.
5 Ed Tyson G 6'3 205 Fr. 10.6 3.1
Freshman from Baltimore, Md...Played at Walbrook HS where he won the 2005 Maryland class 4A state championship and was ranked amongst the top guards in the state...Nicknamed and commonly referred to as "Butz."
13 Art Valentine F 6'7 215 Jr. 0.9 1.1
JUCO transfer from Fulton-Montgomery C.C. (Johnstown, NY), where he averaged 16 ppg over his 2 seasons...Originally from Harlem, NY.
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Sr. 2.1 0.6
Walk-on from Philadelphia, has not scored a FG since 12.10 at Howard... Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched in 20 games (0-1, 9.89 ERA).
22 Shaun Warrick G 6'0 150 Fr. 0.7 0.9
Freshman walk-on from Philadelphia, played at Lutheran HS.
23 Hagay Barav G 6'3 195 Fr. 2.7 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. 0.5 0.3
Freshman walk-on from Teaneck, NJ, played at Teaneck HS.
30 Tal Cohen F/C 6'8 230 So. 0.5 0.7
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 0.8
Walk-on red-shirt freshman, academically ineligible as of Jan. 30...Hails from Baltimore, Md., sat out last season to complete year in residence.
*Currently inactive
UMES Hawks (5-19, 2-12 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
1/21 at Fla. A&M* L 92-96 (OT)
1/23 at Beth-Cook.* L 82-86
1/28 at Morgan St.* W 76-67
1/30 at Coppin St.* L 53-79
2/4 Hampton* L 75-87
2/6 Norfolk St.* L 59-67
2/13 at Delaware St* L 48-64
2/18 Florida A&M* L 72-83
2/20 Beth.-Cookman* L 66-69
Upcoming Games
Date Game Result
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
