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Dec. 29, 2005
College Park, Md. - The Lady Hawks and the Maryland Terrapins were the home teams in the opening night of the Terrapin Classic, but the Hawks didn't get any advantage on the neutral site falling in overtime 86-81 to Furman. The real advantage came at the charity stripe where UMES shot a dreadful 7-16 to Furman's blistering 22 of 30. In fact it was three misses by the Hawk's Kristi Veltkamp in the last minute that would have prevented the extra frame. UMES was outplayed in most categories, being outrebounded 56-47, out shot 41%-38% and outplayed from the bench 30 to 16. The one category they did win was the turnover battle, forcing 19 Lady Paladin turnovers and committing only 12. The big area was free throws where Furman shot 73%, 22 of 30 to the Hawks dreadful seven of 16, just 43.8% The Lady Hawks seem to find ways to lose overtime games this season, dropping their third. In comparison they were undefeated in three tries last year. In the extra frame Sarah Baker gave the Paladins a quick five point lead but a three by Toni Kennedy and a bucket by Veltkamp knotted it up at 76. Some empty trips down the floor mounted for UMES and they were forced to foul. Tommi Paris, Baker and Chrissy Phelps combined to go eight of eight at the line in OT to seal the win. Rachael Goodwin added a three at the buzzer to make it 86-81 Furman. UMES was plagued by early foul trouble on their inside players, losing Kristi Veltkamp early after only one shot attempt, which she made. Veltkamp was called for two offensive fouls and back-up Natalia Benton two on the defensive end. Daynese Stowe got some quality minutes for the Hawks, collecting three points but missing two from the charity stripe that would have given them a 14-13 lead with 13:15 to play. The game was tied at 15 in the first but Furman broke it open on three back to back three-pointers by Lauren Few, Megan Scott and Melissa Liebschwager. They then led 24-19 with 6:09 to play. It was 35-23 at the break as Sarah Baker got all net as the horn sounded at the Comcast Center. To open the second half the Lady Hawks came out intense. They got five points from Veltkamp and ten from Jamila Griffith in the first eight minutes. In fact UMES scored on eight of its first ten possessions. The spark was started by senior guard Toni Kennedy who after being shut out in the first half got four points in the first five minutes. She would finish with 17 while Griffith would have a game high 22 and a new career high. Veltkamp would finish with 12 points and 13 boards for a double double. Furman led 53-50 after two treys by freshman guard DeVaughn Hailey with ten minutes to play. It was enough as Head Coach Fred Batchelor rested all five starters during that stretch. After Baker answered with a three of her own to make it 56-50 the Hawks got right back in it. Tiffany Reid made a cutting left-handed lay-in from Goodwin and Griffith was found from Reid for another two. Her two was on a designed play at the eight minute mark after a time-out. With 7:12 to play Kennedy nailed a three-pointer from the right wing to make it 58-57 with the Hawks down one. Just a minute later it was Kennedy again, this time with a jumper to give UMES its first lead since the opening five minutes. The Lady Hawks were ahead 62-60 with five minutes to play on another Kennedy three. Furman responded with four straight to take a two point lead. With just three minutes to play and the game tied at 64 Kennedy took the ball away from Paris and went the length of the floor only to be intentionally fouled by Paris. She nailed both free throws to give her Hawks a 66-64 advantage. Leading 70-69 with a little over thirty seconds to play Veltkamp went to work and was fouled in the lane. She made one of two, securing her tenth point and giving her Hawks a two point lead. With just 12 seconds remaining Paris went the length of the floor herself and was fouled by Kennedy. Paris, a 98% free throw shooter made them both. After a timeout Coach Batchelor go the ball to Cheatham with just six seconds but it wasn't to be and the Hawks were headed to overtime. UMES looks to regroup from the heartbreaking loss tomorrow at 5:00 pm against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University in the consolation game of the Terrapin Classic. |
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