BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 3, 2024)--Freshman guard Tamaria Rumph scored on a layup with 6.8 seconds remaining in regulation to give host Morgan State a one-point lead, then added two free throws with 6.0 left in the game to secure the come-from-behind victory, as the Lady Bears defeated Central Connecticut State, 68-65 in the non-conference finale for both teams on Wednesday evening at Hill Field House.
 
The win ended a four-game losing skid for Morgan, who improved to 5-10 on the season and now holds a 2-1 all-time series lead over the Blue Devils. Central Connecticut State dropped to 2-11.
 
Morgan State, which trailed by as many as 12 points (32-20) in the second period, was down nine points (63-54) with 5:34 remaining, following a layup by Belle Lanpher.
 
The hosts responded with an 8-0 run, capped off by a layup from Laila Fair to pull within 63-62 with 1:23 to play. A layup by Amaya Williams ended Morgan's run and gave the guests a three-point advantage at 65-62 with 1:06 left. That would be the final points of the game for the Blue Devils.
 
Joelle Johnson connected on a jumper to cut the deficit to 65-64 with 47 seconds remaining. A turnover by Lanpher gave the ball back to Morgan with 17 seconds to go, setting the stage for Rumph's game winning heroics.

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Rumph, who finished with six points and scored four points late in the fourth quarter in the span of one second on the game clock, also added four rebounds and an assist.
 
Sedayjha Payne, who recorded a double-double to lead the Lady Bears, finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs and tallied a game-high three steals. Johnson recorded 13 points, six rebounds and had a game-high two blocks, while Fair finished with 12 points, six rebounds, a block, an assist and a steal in the win.
 
Central Connecticut State was led by Samora Watson, who recorded a double-double with a game-high 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Watson also added three assists and two steals. Lanpher also scored 17 points and finished with two assists and two rebounds. Meghan Kenefick tallied 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, five boards, two assists and a steal, while Williams notched 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and had a steal.
 
Morgan State will now turn its focus to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play for the rest of the season. The Lady Bears begin the league schedule this Saturday, Jan. 6, when they travel to Princess Anne, Md. to face Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. at the Hytche Athletic Center.
 
The Hawks (7-7) are coming off a 99-37 home victory over Lancaster Bible College on Wednesday. UMES had five players score in double figures, including Ariana Seawell, who came off the bench and recorded a double-double with a game-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Last season Morgan and UMES split the season series, each winning on its home floor. The Hawks, who were the #7 seed entering the 2023 MEAC Tournament, then eliminated #2 Morgan, 49-46 in the quarterfinal round in Norfolk, Va.
 
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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.