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March 2, 2005
BALTIMORE - Led by Jamila Griffith's career-high 18 points and 15 rebounds, the Lady Hawks secured their first winning record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play since the 1997-98 season. UMES, under first-year head coach Fred Batchelor, took advantage of a 15-5 run to close the game for the slim 61-56 victory. With 3:35 remaining in the game, the Lady Hawks (12-15, 10-8) trailed 51-46. However, Kolade Aderoju and Qiana Cheatham combined to start a 9-0 run to reclaim the lead at 55-51 as they combined to hit six unanswered free throws. The game was not the most fundamentally sound basketball game of the season for either team, as UMES turned the ball over 26 times and Morgan State (4-21, 2-15) answered with 27. Also, for the first time all season UMES did not record a three-point basket. Coming into the game the maroon and gray averaged 4.73 three-pointers a game, but went 0-8 from beyond the arc. The big difference in the game came on the boards as UMES out-rebounded Morgan State 63-44, of which UMES grabbed 29 offensive rebounds. UMES was also dominate from the free throw line as they went 21-31 compared to the Bears 5-9 from the charity stripe. Freshman Kristi Veltkamp chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, and three second-half blocked shots in just 14 minutes of work on the evening. Griffith's 15 rebounds is not only a career-high for her, it is also a season-high for anyone of the Lady Hawks roster. Morgan State was led by Marke Hollingsworth's 15 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Lady Hawks finish the regular season awaiting a possible first round bye in the MEAC tournament.
UMES will wait and see what happens to Norfolk State at Hampton University to see where they will be seeded in the upcoming MEAC tournament.
If Norfolk State wins, both teams will finish with the same record in conference with NSU earning the tie breaker and getting the #5 seed. If Hampton wins, UMES will earn the #5 seed and receive a first round bye. Check back for more details and complete coverage of the MEAC tournament, right here at www.umeshawks.com |
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