BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 7, 2024)--The Morgan State Lady Bears secured a 60-45 non-conference victory on Thursday evening over Johns Hopkins at Hill Field House, marking their second win of the 2024-2025 season after opening the year with a victory in their first game.
Morgan State (2-0) came out with intensity, quickly building a four-point lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter.
Ja'la Bannerman, who led the Bears with 11 points in the first half, in an early run. Bannerman's birthday happened to fall on game day, but she was focused on doing what her team needed to win.
"I had to come out and do what I needed to do for the team, besides the holiday," she said. Bannerman also pointed to a personal mantra she follows: "On my wrist, I write 'charge to the game.' Coach Ty (Williams) told me to always have emotions, but just charge to the game. When I feel down or off, I look at that as a reminder."
In the first two minutes of the second quarter, Morgan's lead stretched to 17 points, and the Blue Jays were forced to call a timeout.
"We came out strong, and our defense really set the tone," said Morgan State head coach Ed Davis. "Even when we lost a bit of rhythm, we were able to rely on our defense to stay in control. I'll take the win, but 31 turnovers is not acceptable. We'll clean that up moving forward."
Despite pulling down only 11 defensive rebounds in the first half, the Bears' defense kept Hopkins from gaining any offensive rhythm. Morgan State used their fast-break opportunities in the first quarter alone to stay ahead. By halftime, the Lady Bears had built a 38-18 lead, with their fast-paced offense and tough defense keeping Johns Hopkins on the back end.
Leading 50-29 midway through the third quarter, Bannerman and
Jael Butler continued to lead the charge for the Bears. Bannerman made clutch free throws late in the game, while Butler was dominant on the boards, finishing with a game-high 14 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end and eight points.
Despite having 31 turnovers and some shooting inconsistencies, Morgan State's defense and aggressive rebounding kept them in control. The Bears generated offense from second-chance points and the free-throw line, holding off a late push from Hopkins to secure the win.
Bannerman would finish with a game-high 19 points, while
Michaela Bogans added 14.
Laila Fair grabbed 10 rebounds and added eight points.
Johns Hopkins, which reached the Division III Sweet 16 last season, was led by Jadyn Murray, who totaled 10 points. The game was an exhibition contest for the Blue Jays.
Looking ahead, Fair is focused on preparing for the upcoming road games.
"We're working this week to change our style a little in the paint, going into these next games," she said.
The Lady Bears will take to the road to face the University of Richmond on Saturday, Nov. 9, followed by a matchup against Old Dominion University on Monday, Nov. 11, before returning home to face Towson on Thursday, Nov. 14.
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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.
