UMES FALLS AT WAKE FOREST, 60-51 TYLER BIRNBAUM 12/20/10 Cook scores game-high 14 points in loss WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Junior guard Amber Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) scored a game-high 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team but Wake Forest snapped a four-game losing streak with a 60-51 win at the Joel Coliseum Monday. Wake Forest (6-5) shot 40.4 percent for the game, including 43.3 percent in the first half for the win. UMES (2-5) outscored the Demon Deacons, 29-25, in the second half, rebounding from a cold-shooting opening period to keep the game close. Senior guard Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) added 13 points and two steals off the bench while Wake Forest placed just Sandra Garcia in double figures with 10 points. Down, 20 at 48-28 with 11 minutes remaining, UMES made a run that closed the gap. Cook hit 1-of-2 free throws and LaKendra Wilerson (Greensboro, N.C.) and Cook converted consecutive layups in transition before a Kwinnyata Mercer (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) trey made it 48-36 with 8:35 left. Morton was fouled on a 3-point attempt and drained the ensuing free throws to pull to with a 50-39 margin with 7:13 left. Wake pushed the game to a 15-point margin three more times in the closing minutes but 3-pointers by Morton and Bria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) made for the final score. The Demon Deacons turned 29 UMES turnovers into 23 points and grabbed 14 offensive boards for 11 second-chance points. UMES went 20-for-27 from the line, shooting a season-high 74.1 percent. Wake shot just 58.8 percent from the stripe (10-for-17). Wake Forest ran out to a quick 10-2 lead on the strength of four from Brittany Waters in the first three minutes and controlled the opening half. UMES stayed within striking distance of the Demon Deacons, though, partially because of 10-of-13 shooting from the foul line and outrebounding the Deacons, 25-17. Mercer cut the deficit to 23-12 with a 3-pointer at the 8:31 mark. The Lady Hawks got as close as 10 on a Morton 3-pointer with 4:37 left to make it a 27-17 contest. Wake Forest led 35-22 at the break. Shanyce Stewart (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) had her best all-around game of the season with teo points, six rebounds and five steals to help with a strong UMES defensive effort. The Lady Hawks collected 25 defensive rebounds, three blocks and season-high 16 steals. UMES travels to play Charlotte Monday at Noon.