UMES begins MEAC play on Jan. 7 at Norfolk State
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore took full advantage of its final non-conference game on Friday (Dec. 30) clinically taking apart Division III Bryn Athyn 100-30.
“I wanted this day to be an opportunity for us to get better and I thought we took advantage of that,” Hawks head coach Fred Batchelor said. “I thought we executed fairly well. I thought we made the right plays.”
The Hawks (4-10) got out to a 28-11 lead after the first quarter and pushed that lead to 60-16 at the half in a game when all 14 active players scored.
“You can have games like this where you don’t necessarily play well,” Batchelor said. “I thought we played well. I think that is a credit to being focused in situations like this. When you are up 40 at half time it can make it difficult, but I thought the first group did a great job of setting the tone and I thought the kids who came off the bench followed their lead.”
The starting five combined for 35 points, 15 rebounds, 13 assists, and seven steals. Mahogany Lester (Virginia Beach, Virginia) had 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added three boards and four steals. Ariana Seawell (Bronx, New York) hid five of her six shots and had 10 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Mya Thomas (Chesapeake, Virginia) had 10 points and three assists.
“I think the quality of our team is our depth,” Batchelor said. “I keep trying to explain to them that we don’t have a Messiah. We don’t have someone who walks on the court and just erases mistakes, but I think they can be very effective as a group and as a unit. But we have to be connected and play for each other. I saw some unselfishness today, which was really pleasing.”
Makayla Adams (Bowie, Maryland) led all scorers with 13 points — including 3-of-5 from deep — and had three assists and a couple of boards. Amiaya Morgan (Sicklerville, New Jersey) had a career-high 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Freshman Ashanti Lynch (Hookerton, North Carolina) had seven points and seven rebounds.
“I thought we did what we wanted to do,” Batchelor said. “I was really pleased with the focus and concentration to close out the year and try to develop our identity moving forward.”
The Hawks will not return to the court until Jan. 7 when they travel to Norfolk State for a 2 p.m. matchup.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.