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Feb. 25, 2008
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Basketball Team won 17 games in 1991-92. That was the most wins in program history, for now. UMES improved their record to 17-10 overall and tied the school record for wins with a 64-41 victory over Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play. The win improves the Lady Hawks to 10-4 in the MEAC while the Lady Wildcats fall to 4-22, 1-13 MEAC. The game started in a back-and-forth struggle for the first three minutes as BCU jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Natasha Ferguson and Demetria Frank's jumpers. UMES would get a lay-up from Chena Parker and a three-pointer from Queenique Tyler to take a one point lead, 5-4. The Lady Wildcats took the lead right back on two Ferguson jumpers and were up three, 8-5 with 14:32 to play. Brittany Adkins cut the lead to one and then Casey Morton gave the lead back by sinking a pair of free throws to make it 9-8 at the 13:30 mark. Bethune-Cookman would get no closer. UMES would spread the lead out to as many as 11 in the first half. They carried that margin to the halftime with a 27-16 lead. In the second half, the Wildcats cut the lead down to seven, three minutes in, but a Morton trey would push it back to ten, 32-22 and it would remain double digits for the rest of the game. Just three minutes later the lead was 20 when another Morton three-pointer made it 44-24. The lead ballooned to as many as 24 points before the final margin finished at 23, 64-41. "Things went well tonight," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "We had a little adjustment to make at half-time, but I am grateful that I don't have to scream and yell in the locker room. The team knows what is wrong and we instruct them on how to fix it. Tonight, they adjusted well and went on to get a solid conference win."
Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Hawks as April McBride led all scorers with 14 points. Tiffany Reid and Morton finished with 12 each and Parker added 10. McBride and Parker led UMES on the boards with seven caroms each. Bethune-Cookman did something most teams can't, out-rebound the Lady Hawks. They took in 38 boards to UMES' 34. Sixteen of BCU's rebounds were offensive while UMES had just nine. "When we were down at their place, we got what we wanted inside," said Batchelor. "But Coach Simmons (Bethune-Cookman's head coach) changed that tonight and we had to battle inside. It was a different game and the way he won the inside game is a credit to his coaching ability," added Batchelor. The Lady Wildcats were led by Natasha Ferguson who had a double double of 10 points and 12 boards while Sarah Bolden had eight rebounds and 14 points. UMES has just two more regular-season games, a senior day finale with Coppin State on Saturday, March 1. That game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start in the W.P. Hytche Center. They wrap up the regular season at Delaware Sate on March 6. If the Lady Hawks win out, they will clinch second place in the conference. |
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