Feb. 4, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 1:50 pm Saturday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 4:00 pm Saturday
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Click here for complete men's game notes
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The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks, tied for third place in the MEAC, begin a huge two-game weekend trip with a match-up against the rival Delaware State Lady Hornets Saturday in Dover. The Lady Hawks, winners of three straight and in the midst of a stretch of seven games in 15 days, come in at 8-11 (6-4 MEAC) following an overtime non-conference victory at American Wednesday night.
The Lady Hornets, coached by DSU Athletic Director Ed Davis and playing their third game in five days, have won four straight games following a 6-9 (2-4 MEAC) start to the season. DSU is 5-2 with senior guard Terrell Waller in the lineup (since 1/15). The team, which lost in the MEAC championship game last season, fell to the Lady Hawks 58-56 at the Hytche Center Dec. 4th.
News and Notes
PG Ashley Chase is averaging 17.7 ppg but 9.3 TO's/gm over the past 3 games...PG Erica Bennett has missed seven of the Lady Hawks' last 11 games (12/20-illness, 1/10-suspension, 1/17,19,26,29,31-ankle), and will not be with the team for Saturday's game (family matter). Without her, the Lady Hawks are averaging 25.7 turnovers/game (180 total), and with her 21.5 TO's/gm (258 total)...Freshman Kristi Veltkamp has scored in double-figures in eight of her past 11 games (11.6 ppg) after failing to score more than nine points in any of her first eight games (4.3 ppg)...Walk-on Toni Kennedy is leading the Lady Hawks in scoring (10.8 ppg). In her past six games she has struggled though, shooting 8-12 FG's at N.C. A&T 1/29, but a combined 12-57 FG's (21%) the other 5 games...Octavia Thompson, the Lady Hawks leading returning scorer from `03-'04, left the team due to personal reasons after the December 6th game. The senior was averaging 8.3 ppg in four games played this season.
Thrill of the Chase
Ashley Chase hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Lady Hawks past the American Eagles, 62-59 Wednesday at Bender Arena. UMES won its third straight to improve to 8-11 for the season.
The Eagles controlled the first half, going on a 15-6 run midway through to take an 11-point lead late in the half. The Lady Hawks closed the deficit to seven at the break, 33-26.
UMES' struggles continued early in the second half, as American went on a quick 6-0 spurt to reclaim an 11-point advantage, 39-28 with 15:45 left. UMES took control from there, going on a 20-6 run over the next nine minutes to take a 48-45 lead, capped by three-pointers from Toni Kennedy and Kristi Veltkamp. With the score tied at 53 and less than five seconds left, Chase found Veltkamp all alone under the basket with a chance to win the game, but Veltkamp's lay-up attempt bounced off the rim.
The teams traded baskets during the first 4:30 of OT, and the score remained tied 59-59 until the clutch three-pointer by Chase gave the Lady Hawks the lead for good. Joanna Barnes airballed a three-pointer on AU's next possession, and the Eagles never regained the basketball.
UMES Lady Hawks (8-11, 6-4 MEAC)
2004-'05 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/10 Wilm. Coll. (Ex) W 90-44
11/19 vs. Lafayette# L 44-60
11/20 at Eastern Michigan# L 52-80
11/23 Towson L 68-73
11/26 at LIU^ L 49-56
11/27 vs. Miami^ L 64-88
11/30 at Winthrop W 62-55
12/4 Delaware State* W 58-56
12/6 Howard* L 70-86
12/20 at Bucknell L 48-60
12/30 at Temple L 53-77
1/8 at Florida A&M* W 71-68 (OT)
1/10 at Beth-Cook.* W 67-55
1/17 at Hampton* L 46-51
1/19 at Norfolk St.* L 46-63
1/24 Morgan State* W 65-51
1/26 Coppin State* L 51-77
1/29 at N.C. A&T* W 85-75 (OT)
1/31 vs. S. Car. St.* W 63-53
2/2 at American W 62-59 (OT)
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
2/5 at Delaware St.* 2:00 pm
2/7 at Howard* 6:00 pm
2/12 Florida A&M* 2:00 pm
2/14 Beth-Cookman* 5:30 pm
2/19 Norfolk State* 2:00 pm
2/21 Hampton* 5:30 pm
2/26 at Coppin State* 5:30 pm
2/28 at Morgan State* 5:30 pm
3/7-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA
#=Eastern Michigan Eagle Classic
^=LIU Turkey Classic
*denotes MEAC conference game
The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team begins a two-game weekend trip with a match-up against the first-place Delaware State Hornets Saturday in Dover. The Hawks (1-18, 0-10 MEAC) come in on a 16-game losing skid following a 31-point loss to South Carolina State Monday at home.
The Hornets (10-11, 8-2 MEAC) come in on a tear, having won six straight games (all in conference) following a 4-11 start to the season. The team, which is 6-1 at home, is playing its third game in five days (at Bethune Tuesday, vs. Howard Thursday). Delaware State beat the Hawks 65-55 in the conference opener Dec. 4th at the Hytche Center.
Scouting the Hornets
The Delaware State Hornets (10-11, 8-2 MEAC) come into Saturday's contest on a six-game winning streak, all in the conference, following wins over Bethune-Cookman (63-61 at the buzzer) Tuesday and Howard Thursday. The team started the season 4-11 and 2-2 in the conference, but is now tied for 1st place in the MEAC with Coppin State.
The Hornets, coached by Greg Jackson, finished 3rd in the MEAC last season, then lost in the conference semi-finals to Coppin State. The team is led by sophomore Jahsha Bluntt, who tops Del State in scoring (13.5 ppg).
Since 1967, Delaware State and UMES have met 79 times, with the Hornets ahead 40 wins to 39. The Hornets defeated the Hawks 65-55 in the conference opener for both teams Dec. 4th in Princess Anne, as DSU ended the game on a 12-4 run to break open a close game.
News and Notes
The Hawks have struggled to score this season, averaging 55 ppg through 19 games. The team has not scored more than 60 points in a game since Jan. 8th (8 straight). UMES is shooting 38% from the field, 59% from the foul line and 27% from three-point range...UMES is allowing 81 ppg to its opponents this season, and has twice given up at least 100 points...The Hawks are 0-11 away from the Hytche Center this season (and 1-7 at home)...The Hawks began the season 1-13 for the 2nd straight year, and 1-12 for the 3rd straight. After going 1-13 last season, the Hawks ran off wins in six of their next nine to improve to 7-16. In `02-'03, the team finished 5-23, and last season 8-21...The Hawks won their first game of the season in their third attempt (12/1 vs. UMBC). Last season, it took the Hawks nine games to record a victory (started 0-8)...The Hawks returned only five players from last season's team that finished 8-21 (6-12 MEAC). Gone from `03-'04 are all three coaches including head coach Thomas Trotter, leading scorer Tee Trotter, leading rebounder Javes Wiggins and leading three-point shooter Aaron Wellington.
Bulldog Blues
The Hawks dropped their Monday match-up against the two-time defending regular-season conference-champion South Carolina State Bulldogs, 67-36 at the Hytche Center. Freshman Ryan Leak scored a career-high 20 of UMES' 36 points in the loss.
UMES (1-18, 0-10 MEAC) never had the lead and trailed by as many as 38 points in the contest. SCSU (11-9, 4-5 MEAC) jumped out on a 14-4 run to start the game, forcing the Hawks into six turnovers in the first five minutes of play.
The Hawks got back within to four points, 17-13 at 6:39 of the half thanks to some increased defensive pressure, but the Bulldogs took command from there. SCSU ended the first half on a 16-6 run to take a 33-19 lead at the break. They then opened the second half on a tear, scoring 27 of the first 31 points and taking a 60-23 lead.
Leak and Corey Brown (11 points) combined to score 33 of the Hawks' 38 points in the game (87%). Shawn Wiggins was the only Bulldog in double-figures with 13 points.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 2.2 2.9
0 pts in 29 min vs. SC St...Has started 12 straight games at PG...Shooting only 12-56 FG's this season (21%), and 7-38 3's (18%)...Season-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Transfer from Duquesne, sat out entire `03-04 season...Played at St. Vincent/St. Mary HS in Ohio, where during junior and senior seasons he was a teammate of current NBA guard Lebron James.
5 Corey Brown G 6'0 158 Jr. 10.4 2.2
Had 11 pts, 6 TO's in 34 min vs. SC St...Has 24 turnovers in the last 3 games (8.0/gm)...Averaging 4.8 TO's per game (6th in nation)...Career-high 17 pts (5-6 3's) at TCU 12/21...2004 transfer from Mott C.C. (Flint, MI), won a JUCO national championship in `02-'03.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 6.4 1.2
Scored career-high 20 pts (4-13 FG's, 11-12 FT's) vs. SC St...Averaging 12.5 ppg the past four contests...Has started 11 of past 15 games (0 starts in first 4 gms)...True freshman from Jamaica, NY, averaged 21 ppg for Bayside H.S. his senior season.
33 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Sr. 7.5 5.1
Scored 1 pt in 29 min vs. SC St...Struggling past 3 weeks, shooting 14-60 FG's past 8 gms (23%, 6.4 ppg), and 6-33 FG's past 5 (18%, 5.2 ppg)...Career-high 22 pts at Baylor 12/22...One of two returning starters from `03-'04 (Tim Parham)...2003 transfer from Cecil C.C. (Cecil, MD).
42 Tim Parham F 6'9 240 Jr. 10.5 7.6
Only 2 pts and 6 rebs vs. SC St...Has 7 double-doubles in last 10 games...Averaging 13.5 ppg and 9.7 rpg past 11 games, after averaging 6.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg the first 8 games...Career-high 21 pts at B-CC 1/10...Career-high 19 rebs vs. Coppin 1/26...One of two returning starters from `03-'04 (Jareem Dowling)...2003 transfer from Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, Ia).
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
15 Louis Brookins F 6'6 215 Fr. 2.8 1.0
Last 11 gms, car-high 11 pts at NSU 1/19, but 13 total pts the other 10...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 2.0 2.3
0 pts, 4 rebs vs. SC St...Career-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 38 points this season (4 all last season)...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late December.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.9 1.4
2 pts in 22 min vs. SC St...Career-high 9 pts vs. UMBC 12/1 + at N.C. A&T 1/31...2004 transfer from Bunker Hill C.C. (Boston, MA).
24 Stephen Kallman G 6'1 165 So. 0.3 0.2
Played in 11 games this season, total 20 min, 3 pts, 2 rebs, 3 FG attps...Transfer from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), did not play there.
30 Tal Cohen F 6'8 230 Fr. 1.5 1.1
Struggled past 8 games; total 3 pts (0.4 ppg) and 5 rebs (0.6 rpg)...Played in every game this season...Freshman from Hadera, Israel, played on the Israeli Junior National Team while in the Israeli Army for three years.
44 x-Carl Pruitt F 6'7 215 Sr. 10.7 4.6
Academically ineligible to compete...Played 7 games this season, was leading Hawks in scoring...Career-high 20 pts vs. Howard 12/6...Returnee from `03-'04, played in only 9 games.
45 x-Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Sr. 7.3 4.9
Currently academically ineligible (missed last 3 games)...Played only 13.3 mpg his last 4 games...Career-highs 13 pts, 11 rebs vs. UMBC 12/1 (2nd career double-double)...Returnee from `03-'04, started 9 games.
UMES Hawks (1-18, 0-10 MEAC)
2004-05 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/13 Eliz City St. (Ex) L 59-74
11/19 at Fresno State L 42-83
11/23 at Virginia Tech L 50-102
12/1 UMBC W 69-62
12/4 Delaware State* L 55-65
12/6 Howard* L 68-88
12/11 Morehead State L 45-62
12/18 at Nicholls State L 66-100
12/21 at TCU L 53-93
12/22 at Baylor L 73-97
12/29 at Portland State L 44-89
1/8 at Florida A&M* L 68-93
1/10 at Beth-Cook.* L 58-61
1/14 Brown L 38-87
1/17 at Hampton* L 54-80
1/19 at Norfolk State* L 56-74
1/24 Morgan State* L 60-80
1/26 Coppin State* L 55-78
1/29 at N.C. A&T* L 59-74
1/31 S. Carolina St.* L 36-67
Upcoming Games
2/5 at Delaware St.* 4:00 pm
2/7 at Howard* 8:00 pm
2/12 Florida A&M* 4:00 pm
2/14 Beth-Cookman* 7:30 pm
2/19 Norfolk State* 4:00 pm
2/21 Hampton* 7:30 pm
2/26 at Coppin State* 7:30 pm
2/28 at Morgan State* 7:30 pm
3/7-12 MEAC Tourney TBA
*denotes MEAC conference game
Larry Lessett- Head Coach
Lawrence Lessett, Jr. is in his first year as head coach of the Hawks. While making his debut as a Division I head coach, he brings almost thirty years of coaching experience from the high school level through the professional ranks.
Lessett comes to Princess Anne after working for 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, 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 University 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 returns to his alma mater to serve as the first assistant men's basketball coach this season. He graduated from UMES, then Maryland State College, in 1975.
Smith became head coach of Southern High School in Baltimore City in 1978, a position he then held for 24 seasons. In that time he compiled a 414-145 record, giving him the second most victories in Baltimore City Public School history. Smith won 25 playoff games, including three Maryland State Championships (MPSSAA), 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." Smith holds a Bachelors degree in Secondary and Physical Education from UMES and a Master's degree from Coppin State University.
Carl Thomas- Assistant Coach
Carl Thomas, a first-year men's assistant coach, joined the UMES program during the first week of January. Thomas comes to the Hawks less than a year removed from playing in the professional ranks.
While Thomas is holding his first coaching position, he has been in collegiate and professional basketball for almost two decades as a player. A former standout at Eastern Michigan University (1987-'91), Thomas spent much of his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association. He holds the career CBA record for the most times called up to the NBA (5).
Thomas played 68 games over three seasons in the NBA, including stints with the Sacramento Kings (1992), Cleveland Cavaliers (`97 + `98), Golden State Warriors (`98) and Orlando Magic (`98). He averaged 2.9 ppg.
