BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 12, 2025)--The Morgan State women's basketball team grabbed its first victory of the season on Wednesday morning, defeating Washington Adventist, 88-49 in Hill Field House on Education Day.
 
The victory marked the first coaching win at Morgan State for head coach Nadine Domond, who is in her first season at the helm. It was also the third straight Education Day victory for the Lady Bears in as many tries.
 
Morgan State improved to 1-2 on the season, while the Shock dropped to 2-1.
 
Senior Ja'la Bannerman showed exactly why she deserved preseason first-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors, finishing with a career-high 25 points on 9-for-20 shooting from the field and 3-for-8 from beyond the three-point arc.
 
Junior guard Selina Gutierrez added 22 points of her own on 9-of-19 shooting, including knocking down a team-high four 3-pointers in her first start at Hill Field House.
 
"It feels amazing," said junior guard Selina Gutierrez on playing in front of the youth on Education Day. "I think it's cool younger kids get to watch. No matter where you start you can get to the Division I level said Junior Guard Selina Gutierrez."
 
Michaela Bogans added eight points off the bench in the winning effort.
 
Washington Adventist guard Nia Powell scored a team-high 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds to record a double-double. Isabella Lu-Gonzales, Deryanis Velez and Asani Offer each totaled six in the loss.
 
The Lady Bears trailed the entire contest for two minutes and 37 seconds. Washington Adventist held an early 6-2 advantage and was tied at 11-11, before Morgan State used a 13-0 run to gain control and take a 24-11 lead.
 
Morgan State's defense was smothering, causing the Shock problems all game. The Bears forced 28 turnovers to 15 for Washington Adventist.
 
The Lady Bears ran the floor on offense, making the most of every opportunity, shooting 42 percent (33-of-77) from the field and 41 percent (10-of-24) from deep. The Shock tried to stay in the game but shot just 31 percent (20-of-63) from the field and 6 percent (1-of-15) from 3-point range.
 
Morgan State won the low block today, outrebounding the Shock 51 to 48, including a 20 to 16 edge in the offensive rebounding category.
 
Maya Woodson hauled in a game- and career-high 16 rebounds, while Success Prysock also set a career high with 13 rebounds to go with nine points.
 
"Our defense is our offense. We're under construction, said Domond. "It's never the result, it's the process. Making the right play. Not Just a good shot, but a great shot."
 
Morgan State takes on Mount Saint Mary's on the road this Saturday at 3 p.m. in Emmitsburg, Md.


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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.