Maryland Eastern Shore surprise ODU on road, 63-59

Coach Fred Batchelor

UMES Lady Hawks breaks ODU 10-0 streak against MEAC teams

NORFOLK, Virginia - Junior forward Chelsea Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) tied a career-high with 22 points and four assists as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore took down Old Dominion University with a 63-59 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Ted Constant Convention Center, one of the toughest places to play in women's basketball.

The game proved to be a career-high effort for several Lady Hawks, who used a resilient 2-3 defense to limit the Monarchs to a 3-for-22 performance from three-point range in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

The Lady Hawks defeated the Lady Monarchs in Norfolk, where Old Dominion has nearly an 84% winning percentage in its history. 

A crowd of 4,749 was ODU’s largest home gathering this season. Just fewer than 2,000 students from the Norfolk public-school system attended the game.

"Our kids stepped up and took control of the challenge," said coach Fred Batchelor. "This win is huge for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. This win is probably bigger than we even imagine."

The women trailed in the early stages of the contest as three jumpers by Old Dominion in the first three minutes of the game provided them with a 6-2 lead. A layup by sophomore forward Shanyce Stewart (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) gave UMES its first lead, 14-13, at the 8:38 mark before the squads traded baskets over the next few minutes.

Adobi Agbasi (Columbus, Ga.) found a hot hand as she registered the next five points to give the Maroon and Gray a three point lead, 21-18, with just under six minutes to go in the first. A three-pointer by Mercer upped the lead to six, but ODU used six consecutive points to tie the score. It did not last long as Agbasi went down the court and tallied a layup to send UMES into halftime with a two point lead, 26-24.

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Howard Bison Dominate UMES Hawks, 15-5

WASHINGTON, DC – Marissa Coats knocked in six runs as the Howard University softball team dominated Maryland Eastern Shore (7-40, 2-13 MEAC) 15-5 in five innings on Sun. May 8 at Banneker Field. The Bison conclude the regular season 16-26 and 8-7 in conference play.

Samantha Gatson collected the win on the mound – fanning two batters and giving up six hits. Coats led the Bison at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and six RBI.

HU started the game strong – erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the opening inning. Coats’ homerun quickly gave the Bison a 3-0 advantage with no outs. Christine Sborz hit a two-run double which drove in Andascha Moore and Rebecca Kirshner. Subsequently, a run by Sborz and Brittany Barker gave Howard a comfortable 7-0 cushion heading into the top of the second.

The Hawks tried to chip into the advantage, but only managed two hits and a run to cut it to 7-1. The Bison exploded with eight more runs in the bottom of the frame – highlighted by Cierra Gordon’s three-run homer to push the spread to 11-1. Gordon, who was held hitless the previous game, went 2-for-3 at bat with a run scored and five RBI. Coats also notched her second homerun of the game in the inning.

In the fourth inning, Charlise Castro homered to give the Hawks their second run. After posting 11 hits in the first three innings, the Bison were not allowed any hits in the bottom of the fourth. UMES added three more runs in the fifth, but fell short as the game ended via mercy rule at the conclusion of the top of the frame.

Howard softball now shits its focus to the upcoming MEAC Tournament held in Ormond Beach, Fla. from May 12-14.

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By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

Johnson Homers Twice and Pitches One-Hitter in Howard's Final Home Series

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior Emily Johnson led the Howard softball team in their series opener against Maryland Eastern Shore, knocking out two home runs and holding UMES (7-39, 2-12 MEAC) to one hit to land HU (16-24, 7-7 MEAC) the 9-1 win.

Johnson opened and closed the first game with a home run and went 3-for-4 at the plate and tallied 3 RBI. Shortstop Rebecca Kirshner also came up big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3.

Kirshner also tacked on 3 RBI of her own in HU’s game-defining third inning on a triple, where she scored Johnson, centerfielder Lorae Robinson – both of which reached base on bunt singles – as well as Marisa Coats. Prior to Kirshner’s triple, second baseman Trina Kindred led off the inning with a double and scored on Johnson’s bunt. Kirshner and Ciera Gordon scored the final two runs of the six-run inning.

After being on pace to landing her first no-hitter of the season, UMES spoiled Johnson’s run on the mound with their first hit of the game in the fifth inning. In the same inning, UMES scored their lone run of the game on the single, error and a wild pitch.

In all, Johnson finished the opening game with six strikeouts allowed one hit, one run and zero walks in her 5.2 innings of work.

In game two, Robinson got Howard on the board first with a grand slam, putting the Lady Bison up 4-0 in the second inning. Robinson’s grand slam came in back-to-back series as she blasted one last weekend against Morgan State. Robinson went on to notch two additional hits in the remainder of the game.

Despite leading UMES four runs, the Lady Bison spent the rest of the game playing catch up to their MEAC opponent after allowing eight runs in the third inning. The Lady Bison rallied two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but were unable to overcome UMES’s lead. Howard came up one run short as they dropped the game, 9-8.

Seniors Carly Martin and Johnson split the mound and each allowed five hits. Martin walked one, struck out two and was credited with the loss. Johnson struck out three batters and gave up two runs in her four innings in the circle.

Freshman Brittany Barker, senior Christine Sborz and Kirshner were notable performers at the plate in the loss, posting a two hits a piece.

The Lady Bison softball team will look to take the series against the Lady Hawks tomorrow at noon in their final game of the season. Visit www.howard-bison.com for more information on the Howard softball team.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
VISIT: HOWARDBISON

UMES Takes Home 2011 Crown; Lady Hawks Win Second National Title, Top Vandy

Coach Sharon Brummell wins second NCAA
National Bowling Championship (2011, 2008)
with a talented roster with FIVE 2011 All-Americans,
Paula Vilas, Martha Perez, Anggie Ramirez,
Kristina Frahm and Maria Rodriguez.

TAYLOR, Mich. -- Maryland-Eastern Shore took home the crown at the 2011 NCAA Women's Bowling Championships, defeating Vanderbilt, 4-2 at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich. Saturday. The Lady Hawks rebounded from a two-games-to-one deficit to win three consecutive games and the match.

UMES grabbed the early lead with a 215-197 win in the opening game but Vanderbilt answered with a 193-164 win in game two. The Commodores struck in each of the first six frames en route to a 248-201 win in game three. The Lady Hawks roared back with a 30-pin win for the equalizer in game four and it became a best-of-three for the national title.

The Lady Hawks re-gained the lead with a commanding 235-166 victory in the fifth game, inching UMES closer to its second national championship. The sixth game was a back-and-forth affair all the way to the final frame when a Vanderbilt open frame opened the door for UMES. Lady Hawk anchor Maria Rodriguez marked 29 in the 10th to put it away.

To qualify for the championship match, both teams needed to win a pair of matches against undefeated and higher-seeded teams earlier in the bracket. Each did.

UMES knocked-out top seed Fairleigh Dickinson with a 4-2 win Saturday morning, following-up a 4-1 win in Friday's final round in the double-elimination bracket. VU duplicated its Friday afternoon win over second-seeded Nebraska with 4-1 victories on each occasion to advance to the championship.

Saturday's championship will air on ESPN Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Courtesy Detroit Athletics

Championship Bracket

2010/11 UMES Lady Hawks National Champions Roster

NO NAME Year Handed Hometown Last School 04 Buja, Megan FR Right Rockford, Ill. Thomas Jefferson H.S. 23 Falbo, T'nia SO Right Greensburg, Pa. Hempfield Senior H.S. 14 Frahm, Kristina SR Left Oswego Ill. Oswego East H.S. 21 Perez, Martha SR Right Bogota, Colombia English School 02 Ramirez, Anggie SO Left Bogota, Colombia Saint George School 01 Rodriguez, Maria SR Right Ibague Tolima, Colombia La Presentacion 05 Vilas, Paula JR Right Santo Domingo, Dominican Repub Univ. of APEC Sharon Brummell - Head Coach Doug Dukes - Assistant Coach Vince Brummell - Assistant Coach Maurice Lee - Manager

VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
VISIT: UMESHAWKS

2011 NCAA BOWLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: MARYLAND - EASTERN SHORE MAKES FINAL FOUR; IN TITLE HUNT

Past four NCAA championship teams remain in title hunt.  UMES to face Fairleigh Dickinson (2010 NCAA National Champs) today.



The top four seeded teams all remain alive with one loss heading into the final day of the 2011 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich. The four teams represent the last four NCAA champions in the sport and are the only schools to win the crown since the tournament began in 2004.

Top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson and second-seeded Nebraska advanced through the winner's bracket in their first two matches while Maryland Eastern Shore and Vanderbilt had to fight back through elimination matches.

The day wasn't without its drama, as FDU had to fend off Vanderbilt in an epic second-round match that went to a tiebreaker. The 192-192 tie in the first game set the tone for this match. After the Commodores posted wins in each of the next two games, defending NCAA-champ FDU answered with three consecutive wins. VU's 199-184 win in the seventh game left the teams each with 3.5 games through seventh forcing a tiebreaker. In the five-frame roll-off, FDU squeaked by with a 107-105 win to advance.

Saturday's matches include FDU (2010 NCAA champ) against UMES (2008) with the other semifinal pitting Nebraska (2009) against Vanderbilt (2007). Nebraska won it all the last time the championships were held in the Detroit area.



Semifinals begin at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday with the championship set for 3:40 p.m. A tape-delayed broadcast of the final round can be seen on ESPN on Sun., April 17 at 2:30 p.m.

Courtesy NCAA.com

SATURDAY: 10:40 AM CT, WATCH LIVE --UMES VS. FDU, CLICK HERE

HOW THEY GOT THERE: • Printable Bracket

UMES's Rodriguez named NCAA Division I Player of the Year

All-American Maria Rodriguez

DETROIT, MI -- Maria Rodriguez has a big hand in the success of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) women's bowling program and Wednesday she was recognized for it with the NCAA sport's highest honor.

Rodriguez was names the Division I Player of the Year by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) at the NCAA Tournament Banquet on the eve of the championship.

"What an honor," said Rodriguez. "I am truly humbled by this; it is great to be recognized by the coaches who have driven this sport to where it is. For me it justifies all the hard work, all the sweat, blood and tears that have literally gone into my college career. It is an awesome feeling."

Rodriguez is the first National Player of the Year UMES has ever had since becoming a Division I program and, along with teammate Kristina Frahm one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

"I am so proud of Maria," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "I know she feels vindicated. She gave up a lot to come here and start her bowling life anew but in the end it has been great for her and great for our program and university. She has been a driving force in elevating this program to the status we have today. She deserved this award."

Frahm joined Rodriguez as a First-Team All-American, the second selection of her career and fourth overall. Martha Perez was a Second-Team All-American and Anggie Ramirez earned her first All-American selection being named to the third team.

Rodriguez earned her third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year award earlier this season and finished with an average of 210.44. She was named to three All-Tournament Teams this season, was a MEAC Bowler of the Week and even had time to earn the honor of top bowler in her nation's Team Trials. She also earned her third All-MEAC award this season and posted the second highest pinfall of any women's bowler at any ISC sectional.

HAWKS SET FOR OPENING DAY OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Live Video | Tournament Central | 2011 UMES Post-Season Guide (NCAA)

TAYLOR, Mich. - Arriving in Detroit Tuesday night, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team got settled and prepared for the coming days and their pursuit of a second national championship in the last four years. For seniors Maria Rodriguez, Kristina Frahm and Martha Perez a title would mean a nice set of bookends for their careers. The three were freshman on the 2008 championship team.

The Lady Hawks arrived early at Skore Lanes on Wednesday to get in their 90-minute practice session and tested different shots, balls and positioning as well as reading the shot (the oil pattern laid down on the lanes the teams will bowl on for the event). Following their practice, each team member had to select and enter just five balls for tournament use, checking them in, having them weighed and even having uniforms inspected for championship play.

After a daunting trip to two different Target stores (the team had to purchase matching belts for competition), they settled in for some rest before the banquet that evening. After winning numerous awards, including four All-American honors, Rodriguez being named Player of the Year andFrahm earning the NCAA Elite 88 Award it was off to a team meeting and bed for the long day ahead.

By UMES Athletics

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VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

VISIT: UMESHAWKS

Morgan State Women Outlast UMES in MEAC Quarters

Brittany Dodson and Theresa Davis the last 11 points for Morgan State to help the Lady Bears outlast Maryland-Eastern Shore, 43-39, in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament at Joel Coliseum Wednesday. The Lady Bears (17-13) will face either Howard or North Carolina A&T in Friday's semifinals at 2:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

With MSU trailing 33-32 after blowing a 12-point lead, Dodson scored seven of her team-high 10 points and Davis made four consecutive free throws to get their team back in front over the last 6:42 of the game. Davis' free throws with 1:32 left put the Lady Bears up for good.

UMES Falls to Morgan State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Morgan State's Brittany Dodson sank a pair of free throws for the lead with 1:32 to play as the second-seeded Lady Bears held off a hard-charging No. 7 University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team, 43-39, in the quarterfinals of the MEAC Tournament at Joel Coliseum Wednesday.

UMES, which battled back from a 12-point halftime deficit to take a 37-34 edge with 5:01 left, saw its season come to a close at 12-19. With the win, MSU (17-13) advances to the semifinals to play the winner of North Carolina A&T and Howard.

"We played well enough to win," said UMES head coach Fred Batchelor. "We came out flat but playing our second game in 24 hours is no excuse. I'm proud of the way we fought back.

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Lady DSU Hornets Go to Overtime to Defeat UMES

Dover, Del. --- Tasia Bristow came off the bench to lead five Delaware State players in double figures with 15 points in the Lady Hornets' 74-69 overtime victory against Maryland-Eastern Shore in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball contest in Memorial Hall Thursday evening.

DSU won for the third time in four games to improve to 5-9 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC. The Lady Hawks fell to 3-11 and 0-2. Kianna D'Oliveira and Brittany Washington had 12 points each, while Kianna Conner tallied 11 and Ashley Thompson 10 for the Lady Hornets.

Latoya Buckner scored a game-high 20 points to lead UMES. Buckner's performance included 5-of-5 shooting from three-point territory. Casey Morton and Shanyce Stewart had 12 points each for the Lady Hawks.

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Bowling: UMES Perched Atop December NTCA Poll

UMES Head Bowling Coach Sharon Brummell

After an eventful fall semester, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore of Princess Anne, MD was ranked as the No. 1 NCAA women’s bowling program in the country by the National Tenpins Coaches Association in its December national poll. UMES received 16 out of a possible 25 first place votes.

Highlighting their successful first half was the Hawks’ championship match victory over the University of Central Missouri to win the 20-team Hawk Classic in Millsboro, DE. UMES (41-7) also ended in second place at the 18-team Jersey Jamboree in Howell, NJ; and owns a commanding six game lead in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division after 20 matches.

Ranked second was Fairleigh Dickinson University of Teaneck, NJ, 2010 NCAA national champions. The Knights (40-9), who collected four first place votes, won the championship of the Jersey Jamboree by defeating UMES in the title match; finished in second at the 22-team Jeanette Lee Invitational in Midlothian, VA; and after nine matches sits in a first place tie in the North East Conference with three other schools.

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National Tenpin Coaches Association Poll

December 2010

Rank	School (first-place votes)	Season Record
1.	Maryland-Eastern Shore (16)	41-7
2.	Fairleigh Dickinson (4)	40-9
3.	Nebraska - Lincoln (5)	19-3
	tral Missouri	26-14
5.	Sam Houston State	28-13
6.	Arkansas State	26-10
7.	Kutztown	41-13
8.	Sacred Heart	35-14
9.	New Jersey City	36-13
10.	Adelphi	41-18
11.	St. Francis (NY)	33-16
12.	Vanderbilt	13-17
13.	Valparaiso	27-20
14.	Alabama A&M	11-5
15.	Stephen F. Austin	15-13
16.	Norfolk State	28-15
17.	Delaware State	24-22
18.	Florida A&M	21-12
19.	Minnesota State - Mankato	19-18
20.	Louisiana Tech	27-17
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically)
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC; Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX;  Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA; State University of New York Institute of Technology, Utica, NY;  University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, Whitewater, WI.