BALTIMORE,Md. (November 6, 2023)--Led by player of the game, Sophomore Kia Ponder with a game-high 18 points, three Lady Bears would score in double figures, as Morgan State began the 2023-24 campaign with a come-from-behind non-conference victory over Washington Adventist, 59-57 Monday evening at Hill Field House.
 
The win helped Morgan State head coach Edward Davis record his 100^th career coaching victory at Morgan State. The Lady Bears extended their all-time series lead over the Shock to 8-0, while also picking up the program's 38th home win in the last 43 home contests dating back to the 2018-19 campaign.
 
Ponder would shoot 8-of-16 from the floor, and 2-of-3 from the free throw line. Transfer graduate student Joelle Johnson connected on 5-of-12 shooting to finish with 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while sophomore Gabrielle Johnson had a total of 10 points, four assists, and two turnovers.
 
After a slow start, Morgan State (1-0) trailed 10-16 after one quarter of play, and continued to be outscored 20-29 in the second quarter heading into halftime.
 
Morgan State tried to tighten up its defense in the second half, as the Lady Bears fought to close the cap, outscoring the Shock, 22-19 in the third quarter. With a few minutes left to go in the game the Lady Bears tied the Shock, 56-56, following two free throws by Tamaria Rumph.
 
Morgan State forced the Shock (1-1) into 28 turnovers and recorded 13 steals. Rumph came off the bench to record a game-high four steals, while Emily Jones and Dakota Alston each had one steal.
 
Kelly Luck led the Shock with 14 points, while Shelby Ricks pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to go with five points and two steals in the loss.
 
The Lady Bears head coach Edward Davis said, despite the win the team underestimated the Shock and that almost cost them the win.
 
"A Lot of things that happened to us tonight such as missed shots, missed layups we should have corrected. But we came out and didn't take this team seriously and as a result they played us all the way to the end," said Davis. "One thing they (The Lady Bears) learned today, don't underestimate anybody."
 
Davis said the team's offensive and defensive strategy was to score at least 60 points in the game and try to hold off the opposing team until 55 points. He said going into the next game is about getting the team's identity reclaimed.
 
"Next game we have to come back with a little bit more vengeance and confidence in what we do," said Davis. "We didn't know whether or not we were going to come back, so right now we have to go back and get the team's identity because right now that's a bit unknown."
 
The Lady Bears return to court on Sunday, Nov. 12, when they welcome Sacred Heart to Hill Field House for a 2:00 p.m. tip. 


FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
 Facebook: /MorganStateBears
 Twitter: @MorganStBears
 Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.