STARTERS CARRY LADY HAWK TO 72-68 WIN OVER FAMU
JENNIFER JONES 02/21/09

UMES shot over 90-percent from the foul line in the second half.

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's basketball team pulled out a nail biter against Florida A&M University (FAMU) 72-68 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play Saturday night. Every UMES starter finished in double-digits for the first time this season to lead the Lady Hawks (12-12, 8-5 MEAC) to their second straight conference win.

April McBride (New Rochelle, N.Y.) led the pack with a near double-double, posting a team-high 17 points and game-high nine rebounds. Tiffany Reid (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with 15 points. Jasmine Speed (McDonough, Ga.) and Josephine McLane (Centreville, Va.) each had 13 points respectively and Casey Morton (Mardela Springs) finished with 10.

Combined, the starting five shot .420 from the field and an impressive 95.2-percent from the free throw line.

Neither team led by more than seven points in the first half. FAMU was up 24-18 with 4:04 on the clock when Speed hit a three point shot to pull the Lady Hawks to within three. McLane would follow her with another three to tie the game for the third time.

The Lady Rattlers hit the go ahead layup at the minute mark. Reid hit a three point shot with 37 seconds left in the half, but FAMU responded with a three of their own to go up 29-27. UMES held for one shot and McBride was fouled with four seconds on the clock. She made both free throws to tie the game at 29-29 going into the break.

But no amount of foreshadowing could have predicted that after UMES went up 64-50 with just under three and a half minutes to play the game that the end would be as exciting as the end of the first half.

FAMU went on a 7-0 run, holding UMES scoreless for nearly a minute and a half to pull within seven points. Morton hit two free throws with 1:55 on the clock to break the Lady Hawks offensive silence and put the score at 66-57. The Lady Rattlers would hit key shots to tie the game for the seventh and final time at 66 all with only 35 seconds to play.

McBride missed a three point shot and Speed grabbed a huge offensive rebound to keep the Lady Hawks' possession alive. Morton was fouled going to the basket with only nine seconds to go and made both free throws of the double bonus to put the Lady Hawks up 70-68.

A turnover by FAMU's Deidra Jones with eight seconds on the clock gave UMES the ball and another opportunity to score. Reid was fouled with six seconds left in the game and went to the line to shoot two. She sunk both shots to give UMES their final lead. McBride sealed the deal when she stole the ball with four seconds remaining in the game.

The Lady Rattlers (11-13, 5-8 MEAC) were led by Tameka McKelon, who finished with a game-high 19 points. Jones had 13 points and a game-high six assists. Antonia Bennett and Stephanie Foster finished with 12 and 11 points respectively.

UMES continues their tour of the sunshine state February 23 against Bethune-Cookman University. They are 8-1 against the Wildcats under Head Coach Fred Batchelor. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and fans can listen to the play-by-play live at umeshawks.com or on Timeless Classics 540 AM.