Women's Basketball 1/17/2015 8:40:00 PM

Women’s Basketball Falls To Maryland Eastern Shore

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Maryland Eastern Shore came out firing against the Lady Tigers in the opening period of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game on Saturday, and despite a late rally from Savannah State, held on to down SSU 61-50.

In the 9^th game between the two programs, both squads were battling for third place in the MEAC standings. UMES now holds a 6-3 series advantage over SSU.
The Lady Tigers fall to 7-9 on the season and 2-2 in the MEAC. UMES improves to 6-8 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.

Savannah State was led by a pair of seniors in the loss. MEAC Preseason Player of the Year Ezinne Kalu recorded double-digits for the 14^th time this season, scoring 13 points. Coming off the bench, Jasmine Norman recorded double-digits for the third consecutive game with 13 points also.

UMES opened the game with an 8-0 run after SSU failed to score on several possessions. Norman broke the almost six minute scoring drought for SSU with a basket at the 14:35 mark.

The Lady Hawks continued to march however, taking an 11-point lead (13-2) at the 13:18 mark behind a layup from Jessica Long. Long had a stellar game; leading the home team with 14 points on the night.

Kalu put in her first points of the game at the 12:25 mark to cut UMES' lead to 13-4, but the Lady Hawks extended their advantage to double-digits once again with a 10-2 run over the following six minutes.

Chalyse Taylor drained a 3-pointer at the 5:45 mark of the first period to give UMES their largest lead of the game, 26-8. UMES shot 42.9 percent from beyond the arch, hitting 6-of-14 attempts.

UMES held onto their double-digit lead for the final six minutes of the half, going into the locker room with a 31-16 advantage.

Savannah State came out of halftime with a new game plan. Norman replaced Jazmin Thomas in the starting lineup, and went to work with Kalu.

Norman scored on the first possession, opening an 8-0 run for the Lady Tigers. In the first three minutes, SSU cut UMES' lead to 31-24, but the Lady Hawks rallied back with points from Moengaroa Subritzky, and Long.

SSU freshman Lauryn Fields came off the bench to help SSU rally with three straight field goals in a 9-2 Lady Tiger spurt that got them within five (38-33) of UMES' lead.

With 10:18 to play in the game, Kalu sank a free-throw to cut the home team's lead to 40-36. The four-point spread was the closest SSU came to UMES' lead.

Long led the Lady Hawks back to a double-digit advantage to help seal up the win, as SSU struggled with fouls and turnovers down the stretch. Three Lady Tigers fouled out in the contest.

UMES shot 45.8 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from downtown, and 55.0 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Tigers managed a 38.8 percent clip from the floor, and 77.8 percent from the charity strip.

The Lady Tigers conclude a four-game MEAC road swing with a quick trip north to Dover, Delaware. They take on Delaware State Monday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. SSU returns home on Jan. 24 to take on five-time defending MEAC champions Hampton University.

Bench Notes:

SSU senior guard Bria Dorsey was sidelined in the UMES game after suffering a finger injury against N.C. Central last weekend. Her return date has not been set.

Sophomore Rhianna Warren returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with a broken nose. Warren played eight minutes and hit one late 3-pointer against UMES.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Bria Dorsey: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#5 Lauryn Fields: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#4 Jasmine Norman: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#11 Rhianna Warren: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#13 Jazmin Thomas: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#23 Ezinne Kalu: G; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 Bria Dorsey
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#5 Lauryn Fields
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#4 Jasmine Norman
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#11 Rhianna Warren
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Jazmin Thomas
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#23 Ezinne Kalu
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G