UMES women's basketball picked up first victory of the season against UMBC

BALTIMORE, Maryland – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women’s basketball team picked up their first win of the season as they cruised past the University of Maryland Baltimore-County (UMBC), 68-45. The Lady Hawks defeated UMBC for the first time on the Retriever’s home-court after losing five straight dating back to 1982. With the win, UMES improved to 1-2 overall whereas UMBC fell to 1-2.

Four Lady Hawks scored in double-digits, led by junior Shawnee Sweeney (Chester, VA). Sweeney recorded a career-high 22 points, including seven three-pointers. Sweeney also posted five boards, four assists, and two steals. Jessica Long (Fort Washington, MD) added 11 points and a game-high six assists. Ashleigh Claybrooks (Manassas, VA) registered her first double-double of the young season as she tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UMES took a 12-point lead going into halftime, 32-20. In the second half, the Lady Hawks began the half on a 10-2 run and extended the lead to 20 points, 42-22. UMBC Head Coach Phil Stern requested a 30-second timeout to slow down the Lady Hawks’ momentum. After the timeout, the Retrievers drilled a three-pointer to cut into UMES’ lead, 42-25, with exactly 16 minutes left to play. Then, UMBC would go on a 12-5 run to cut the deficit down to ten, 47-37, with a little over nine minutes remaining in the game.

A Chalyse Taylor (Louisville, KY) three-pointer followed by a UMBC turnover, which led to a score, put the Lady Hawks back in control, 52-37. Next, UMES run continued after going on a 10-5 run to push the lead back to 20 points, 62-42, with four-and-a-half remaining. With less than a minute remaining, the Lady Hawks lead grew as much as 24 points, 68-44, after Sweeney hit her seventh three-pointer of the afternoon. A late free-throw by the Retrievers would make the final score, 68-45.

In the first half, the Lady Hawks jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after back-to-back threes by Sweeney, forcing UMBC to use a timeout. A Long free-throw extended the lead to seven, 7-0, until UMBC’s Sara Tarbert scored on a layup to put the Retrievers on the board, 7-2. A Taylor three-pointer pushed the lead to eight, 10-2, with just under 16 minutes remaining in the half. UMBC trailed, 13-6, but back-to-back jumpers by Claybrooks extended the lead to double-digits, 17-6. With less than 10 minutes left in the half, the Retrievers were down nine, 19-10, and then went on a 8-2 run to cut the lead to three, 21-18, with just over five minutes to play in the first half. Next, UMES closed out the half on an 11-2 run to push the lead to double-digits, 32-20.

Other notable Hawk performances included Alexis Udoji (Randolph, MA) tying her career-high 12 rebounds while chipping in five points, four steals, and two blocks. Taylor made her first start of the season and netted 11 points, including three triples in the win.

For the Retrievers, Tarbert and Taylor McCarley were the only UMBC players in double-figures. Tarbert had 17 points with nine boards and three assists while McCarley added 10 points and five rebounds in the loss.

The Lady Hawks conclude their three-game road trip in Syracuse, NY where they will face Syracuse University. Tip-off is 7:00 p.m.

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION