UMES Hawks will try to break through

PRINCESS ANNE -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team finished 8-8 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play last season, sporting its best record in close to a decade. While, in past campaigns, breaking even in the conference would be welcomed, UMES coach Frankie Allen is far from satisfied. Allen, in his third year at the helm, looks to continue with the progression of a program that has seen its go from 4-28 in 2007-08 to 7-23 in 2008-09 to 11-21 last season.

"This is an opportunity for us to have a breakthrough season," Allen said. "It was a down program when we got here, and it has made significant progress."

UMES Routs Wesley in Exhibition Win

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Senior Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) and sophomore Chelsea
Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 15 points each, including nine apiece in the second half, as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team rolled to an exhibition victory over Division III Wesley, 87-51, in front of 1,469 at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

The pair were two of four players to score in double figures in the win. Juniors Bria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) and Amber Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) also had 11 and 10, respectively, while the UMES defense forced 33 turnovers and grabbed 23 steals.

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Fred Batchelor Up Close, Videographer: UMESHAWKSATHLETICS

Q&A with UMES coach Frankie Allen

Frankie Allen has high hopes for his third season in Princess Anne. The UMES men's basketball coach has added six scholarship players to the Hawks' roster. Allen believes his third recruiting class at UMES -- combined with his returning players -- could vault the Hawks into the MEAC's championship conversation.

Louis Bell, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Friendship Collegiate in Washington, Mike Spence, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound center from Newark, N.J., who did a post-grad year at Apex Prep, Jo Jo Swift, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound point guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., who did a post-grad year at NIA Prep and Kevin Williams, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound point guard from Houston are the Hawks' incoming freshmen.

Allen has also added two junior college players to the Hawks' roster:

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