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Jan. 8, 2005
TALLAHASSEE, FL - In a game of offensive runs, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team outlasted Florida A&M (FAMU) to win 71-68 in overtime. The Lady Hawks, who ended a three-game losing streak, were led by freshman Kristi Veltkamp's (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Home School) career-high 16 points and strong play off the bench from sophomore Ashley Chase (Baltimore, MD/Paul Lawrence Dunbar H.S.). FAMU (4-8, 2-2), who defeated UMES last season 63-60, began the game on a 10-2 run as the Lady Hawks (3-8, 2-1) committed five early turnovers. UMES head coach Fred Batchelor responded by calling a timeout and replacing all five starters on the court. The maroon and gray's bench was able to regain control of the ball in the offensive end and scored four quick points. After a quick rest the starters returned and built upon the momentum from the bench play as they rattled off a 15-2 run of their own. Highlighted by back-to-back buckets by Veltkamp, and capped by junior Toni Kennedy's (Baltimore, MD/Grayson County College) three-pointer, the Hawks took claim to a 17-12 lead. Kennedy finished the game with 14 points, including three three-pointers. However it was FAMU's turn to make a run and they responded with a 13-0 run as UMES once again had troubles with turnovers in which they totaled 16 in the first half. With 3:40 left the Rattlers held a 25-17 advantage. Quidara Russell, who had a game-high 23 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, paced FAMU on the run as she dropped in six points.
Batchelor once again looked to the bench and Chase responded with what you could say was her best game in her two years at Maryland Eastern Shore. She closed out the half scoring eight of the Lady Hawks last nine points to close within three points at the intermission, 29-26.
UMES didn't slow down as it continued its run right out of the gate in the second half going on a 11-0 run to reclaim the lead at 37-29. FAMU had seven straight offensive possessions that resulted in three straight steals by senior Erica Bennett (Panama City, FL/Jacksonville C.C.), two turnovers, a jump ball turnover, and then a Chase steal to cap the Lady Hawks run. As to be expected, the Lady Rattlers responded with another 13-0 run to take back control of the scoreboard with 12 minutes remaining. FAMU senior Arial Towns, who finished with a game-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds, scored the first five points of the run and seven total to lead the way. One more time Chase took it upon herself to guide the Lady Hawks to victory as she scored five straight to reach double-figures tying the game at 47-47. The rest of the Lady Hawks responded to the effort and continued to pile it on FAMU as they ran the lead to 56-48 behind a 14-1 run with just over five minutes left in regulation. Chase finished the game with 14 points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench. With under three minutes left and holding a eight-point lead things began to get a little rough as a minor altercation between Chase and Candace Crawford led to a personal foul on Crawford and then double-technical fouls on Crawford and Bennett. Bennett was then ejected from the game because she pushed Crawford, who was yelling at Chase after she committed the foul on Chase. Following the altercation, FAMU went on a 9-2 run that was capped by a prayer of a three-pointer off the glass by Charon Williams, who set a school-record against Bethune-Cookman with six three pointers two days ago, to tie the game at 64-64 and force overtime. In the overtime session, Veltkamp carried the team on the offensive end scoring the Lady Hawks first six points as they outscored FAMU 7-4 in the extra period. Veltkamp finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and a key block shot late in the second half. Junior forward Jamila Griffith (Barbados,West Indies/Tallahassee C.C.) played a critical role under the basket as she pulled down a game-high and season-high 13 rebounds including six offensive boards. The Lady Hawks will now move onto play Bethune-Cookman, who lost to FAMU two days ago 81-47, on Monday, January 10, 2005 as they continue a quick two-game road trip to Florida. |
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