Feb. 14, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 5:30 pm Monday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 7:30 pm Monday
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Click here for complete men's game notes
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The Women's Game
The fifth-place UMES Lady Hawks continue a crucial four-game home stand with a match-up against the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats Monday at the Hytche Center. The Lady Hawks, currently tied with Norfolk State in the standings, come in at 9-13 (7-6 MEAC) following a homecoming win over FAMU Saturday. UMES has won seven of its last 12 games following a 2-8 start.
The Lady Wildcats, picked to finish sixth in the MEAC this season, have struggled to a 3-9 conference record and currently sit in 10th place. The team, led by first-team preseason conference selection Katie Clark, upset first-place Hampton at home last week. UMES beat B-CC 67-55 January 10th in Daytona Beach.
News and Notes
PG Ashley Chase is averaging 13.0 ppg (78) but 7.8 TO's/gm (47) over the past 6 games...PG Erica Bennett has missed ten of the Lady Hawks' last 14 games (12/20-illness, 1/10-suspension, 1/17,19,26,29,31-ankle, 2/5,7,12-family matter). Without her, the Lady Hawks are averaging 25.8 turnovers/game (10 games, 258 total), and with her 21.5 TO's/gm (12 games, 258 total)...Freshman Kristi Veltkamp has scored in double-figures in ten of her past 14 games (11.2 ppg, 157 pts) 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 (10.9 ppg). In her past ten games she has struggled from the field though, shooting 8-12 FG's at N.C. A&T 1/29, but a combined 25-101 FG's (25%) the other 9 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.
Finishing Strong
The Lady Hawks used a decisive 9-0 run in the final two minutes to propel themselves to a 60-54 victory over the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers Saturday at the Hytche Center. Toni Kennedy scored five of her game-high 15 points during the 9-0 spurt, including a huge four-point play.
UMES (9-13, 7-6 MEAC) led 50-40 with five minutes left, but a quick 11-0 run by the Lady Rattlers (8-13, 6-7) gave FAMU the lead with 1:55 left. Freshman Joslyne Jackson scored eight points during the run, including two big three-pointers.
After a timeout, Ashley Chase hit a running jumper to give UMES the lead for good. After Kristi Veltkamp hit a free throw to put the Lady Hawks ahead 53-51, the freshman picked up her fourth blocked shot on Quidara Russell's turnaround with 26 seconds remaining. Kennedy secured the victory with a lay-up on the ensuing possession, on which a flagrant foul was called on FAMU's Dierdre Tyus. Kenendy hit both free-throw's and Chase connected on one more to make it a five-point possession.
Veltkamp scored 13 of her 14 points in the game's first eight minutes (6-6 FG's), then took only two shots from the floor the rest of the way. Chase finished the game with 11 points. Ariel Towns led FAMU with 14 points, while Jackson added 11.
UMES Lady Hawks (9-13, 7-6 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)
2/5 at Delaware St.* L 46-60
2/7 at Howard* L 41-67
2/12 Florida A&M* W 60-54
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
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 continues a four-game home stand with a rematch of a thrilling game in January against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Monday at the Hytche Center. The Hawks (2-20, 1-12 MEAC) fell to Florida A&M 70-57 on homecoming Saturday.
The Wildcats (10-12, 6-6 MEAC), winners of four of their last six, are now in seventh place in the conference following a 3-1 start to the conference season. Led by transfer guard Antonio Webb, the Wildcats concluded a 2-2 home stand with a non-conference win over Savannah State Friday. The team beat the Hawks 61-58 January 10th in Daytona Beach.
Scouting the Wildcats
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (10-12, 6-6 MEAC) come into Monday's contest in seventh place in the MEAC, following a 2-2 home stand that concluded Friday with a nine-point win over Savannah State. The team also beat Hampton during that stand, their second win over the Pirates this season (each by 1 point).
The Wildcats finished eighth in the MEAC standings last season and were picked there again in the preseason poll this year under fourth-year head coach Clifford Reed. Bethune has had a five-game losing streak as well as a four-game skid earlier this season.
Junior-college transfer Antonio Webb has made a big splash in his first season with the Wildcats, leading the team in scoring (15.4 ppg, 3rd in the MEAC), assists (2.9 apg, 7th) and three-point shooting (41%, 1st). Big man Michael Williams, replacing Pape Ba this season, is second in scoring (11.9 ppg) and first in boards (7.0 rpg). The Wildcats erased a 15-point second-half deficit and beat UMES 61-58 January 10th in Daytona Beach, thanks to 15 points from Williams (12 in the 2nd half).
News and Notes
The Hawks scored 88 points at Howard 2/7 to best their previous season high total by 15 (73 at Baylor 12/22). As a team UMES is averaging 56 ppg through 22 games. UMES is shooting 39% from the field, 61% from the foul line and 29% from three-point range...UMES is allowing 80 ppg to its opponents this season, and has twice given up at least 100 points...The Hawks are 1-12 away from the Hytche Center this season (and 1-8 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.
Rattle and Roll
The Hawks lost their homecoming match-up Saturday to the Florida A&M Rattlers, 70-57 at the Hytche Center. FAMU broke open a close game at the end of the first half with a 27-8 run, and cruised to a 13-point win.
FAMU (8-13, 6-7 MEAC) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but a 17-7 spurt from the Hawks gave UMES a 17-14 lead midway through the half thanks to one of senior Jareem Dowling's three first-half three-pointers. The Rattlers then caught fire from the outside, as James Pattman and Michael Ayodele combined to hit four straight three-balls to spark the game's decisive run. FAMU led 41-28 at halftime thanks to 50% field goal shooting.
The Rattlers never relinquished the lead in the second half, pushing their advantage as large as 19 on several occasions. Corey Brown scored 14 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, but was the only Hawk player to make more than one field goal in the final 20 minutes.
Brown had a game high 20 points to lead all scorers, while Parham netted his 10th double-double in 13 games, tallying 13 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes. Pattman led FAMU with 15 points, while Darius Glover and Tony Tate added 10 each.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 2.6 3.0
4 pts in 29 min vs. FAMU...Season-high 9 pts at Howard......Has started 15 straight games at PG...Shooting only 18-76 FG's this season (24%), and 13-57 3's (23%)...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. 11.3 2.0
Had 2nd straight 20-pt game Sat. vs. FAMU, played all 40 min...Career-high 21 pts, 6 assts at Howard 2/7...2nd of team in scoring, 1st in FT shooting (76%)...Averaging 4.7 TO's per game...2004 transfer from Mott C.C. (Flint, MI), won a JUCO national championship in `02-'03.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 6.5 1.2
Had 5 pts (1-6 FG's) in 24 min vs. FAMU...Averaging 10.2 ppg the past seven games (71 pts)...Career-high 20 pts (11-12 FT's) vs. SC St. 1/31...Has started 14 of past 18 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. 8.0 5.1
Scored 11 pts (3-6 3's) vs. FAMU...Struggling past 4 weeks, shooting 20-79 FG's past 11 gms (25%), and 12-52 FG's past 8 (23%, season 30%)...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. 11.6 8.2
Had 13 pts, 11 rebs vs. FAMU...Has 10 double-doubles in last 13 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Averaging 14.6 ppg (204) and 10.3 rpg (144) the past 14 games, after averaging 6.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg the first 8 games...Career-high 28 pts, also 15 rebs at Howard 2/7...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 0.9
Last 14 gms, car-high 11 pts at NSU 1/19, but 18 total pts the other 13...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 1.9 2.2
2 pts, 2 rebs vs. FAMU...Career-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 42 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. 2.7 1.3
0 pts in 18 min the past 2 games...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 12 games this season, total 21 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. 1.4 1.1
Struggled past 11 gms; total 5 pts (0.5 ppg) and 9 rebs (0.8 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.
45 x-Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Sr. 7.3 4.9
Currently academically ineligible (missed last 6 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 (2-20, 1-12 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
2/5 at Delaware St.* L 45-71
2/7 at Howard* W 88-74
2/12 Florida A&M* L 57-70
Upcoming Games
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 NBA games over three seasons, including stints with the Sacramento Kings (1992), Cleveland Cavaliers (`97 + `98), Golden State Warriors (`98) and Orlando Magic (`98). He averaged 2.9 ppg.
