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Feb. 6, 2008
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Lady Hawks topped Delaware State University (DSU) 61-55 in the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center for their sixth straight win, a school record and with it moved into a tie for second place with Hampton University. The name of the game was defense as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) held DSU's two leading scorers to just six points. In contrast the Hawks put four players in double figures. Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md./Mardela H.S.) proved to be the hero as she took a tied game and put UMES up 58-55 with just .34 second left in the game. With the score tied, Morton abandoned a called play as the defense shifted to open the lane and she took advantage of it, cruising to the rim, collecting the hoop and the harm and converted the old-fashioned three point play. "Coach called a play but the defender cheated and I had a one on one and I took it to the basket," said Morton. She would lead all scorers with 17 points. That was the first UMES lead since the game was 7-6 in the first half. Another freshman, Queenique Tyler (Ft. Washington, Md./Potomac H.S.) was also a big factor in the game. It was her defense at the end of the game that stopped DSU. She forced a tough shot from Ashlee Burbage and the ball went off a Lady Hornet to the Hawks and DSU was forced to foul. Morton would be the recipient of the free throws, sinking a pair and Tyler would split a pair at the end that would make it a 61-55 UMES edge at the horn. "I kept my feet set and my hands off of her," said Tyler. "I didn't want her to get a clean look." Tyler was also in double figures with 10 points. Other than defense free throws were again a big factor, as they were in the Coppin State win. UMES shot a scorching 90 percent in the second half from the free throw line and finished shooting 83.3 percent for the game, 25-30. In fact UMES made as many shots from the charity stripe in the second half as DSU took all game. "Free throws are a sign of mental toughness," said Head Coach Fred Batchelor. "We didn't start the game mentally tough, we were being pushed around and we were not ready to play. That is why the defense was so critical; it kept us in the game. I think after half time we got mentally tough and grew as a team in that phase of the game." UMES was down five at the break, 32-27 with DSU's top two players, Raquel Collier and Katreem Palmer being held scoreless. They would finish with six points between them. In fact, Palmer's first bucket came with under three minutes to play. Collier hit a runner under the ten minute mark of the second half but only added a pair of free throws for the remainder of the game. "I have to credit Brittany Adkins (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech. H.S.) and April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle H.S.) for their defense tonight," said Batchelor. "[Adkins] did a nice job on Palmer, she never let her get comfortable. [Palmer] may not be 100 percent after her game at Coppin State but Brittany never let her get into a rhythm. And April really went toe to toe with Collier. Those two are outstanding players and their numbers tonight speak to the defensive effort put on them." DSU would outshoot the Lady Hawks 40.7 percent to 35.6 percent but the lock-down defense on Collier and Palmer, as well as the free throws proved to be a huge difference. Keyhana Wakefield had 14 to lead DSU while Ashley Thompson added 11 points. Thea Littlepage had a game high nine rebounds. For the Lady Hawks, McBride finished with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Tiffany Reid (Philadelphia, Pa./National Christian Academy) was also in double figures with 11 points. "It's all coming together," said Morton. "But we are not there yet. We are gaining confidence in ourselves and coach has confidence in us too." The win sets a school-record for UMES with six straight wins. They had won five in a row once before in the 1991-92 season. "Six straight means a lot," said Batchelor. "It shows what we are capable of. It is a nice record to have but we have to stay focused on our ultimate goal." UMES now faces Howard University on Saturday in a game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the Hytche Center. "I was worried about us a team tonight," said McBride. "But we played with our hearts and didn't have a let down. We are just taking it one game at a time," she added. "Our goal is to win the MEAC, but we can't do that without concentrating on winning each game as they come." |
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