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Feb. 19, 2005 PRINCESS ANNE, MD - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore dropped a difficult Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match to Norfolk State, 59-57. The loss drops the Lady Hawks to 10-14, 8-7 in conference while NSU jumps over UMES with an 8-14 overall record, but an 8-7 in conference record with two victories over the maroon and gray. In the first half, Norfolk State used perimeter shooting and fast break opportunities to gain a slight 16-15 lead, however UMES countered with a physical inside-out game that started a 8-2 run to give UMES a 23-18 advantage with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. Over the next few minutes the Lady Spartans answered with an 8-1 run of their own highlighted by a deep three-pointer as the shot clock neared zero. Over the final five minutes of the half, the two teams traded leads before UMES extended the lead at half to 34-29. Junior Jamila Griffith (Barbados, West Indies/Tallahassee CC) dominated the first half as she led the game with 10 points and seven rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. Freshman Kristi Veltkamp (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Home School) chipped in eight of her 11 points on 3-4 shooting from the field in the first half. The Lady Spartans began the second half with a 5-0 run over the first 2:11 to tie the game at 34-34. Over the next five minutes the two teams again exchanged leads back and forth as the score stood at 41-39 before Stefani Williams expanded the advantage to five at 44-39 in favor of NSU. Erica Bennett's (Panama City, Fla./Jacksonville CC) three-pointer to beat the shot clock and then a lay-up by Brittany Adkins tied the game at 46-46 with 9:34 remaining in the game. However, a 7-0 run by NSU stretched the lead to a game-high seven points. Of course with the type of finishes that UMES fans have come to expect at home, the Lady Hawks closed in an eventually took a slight one point lead at 54-53 with three and a half minutes left.
The Lady Spartans regained the lead 56-54, on a pair of free throws by Williams and then Jasmine Wilson split a pair of free throws with 39 seconds remaining. The Lady Hawks regained the ball but Ashley Chase (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar HS) lost control of the ball out of bounds. UMES immediately fouled Ashley Bowman on the inbounds, who hit both free throws to make it a two possession game. Griffith had a double-double to finish the game, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Veltkamp had 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks, while Toni Kennedy (Baltimore, Md./Grayson County College) added 10. The Lady Hawks will play their last home game of the season on February 19, facing off against the Hampton Lady Pirates. Tip off at the Hytche Center is slated for 5:30pm. |
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