PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (March 1, 2025)--Morgan State's Naya Ojukwu scored a game-high 20 points and added a team-high seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as the Lady Bears dropped a 70-59 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game on the road to Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on Saturday afternoon at the Hytche Athletic Center.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore (11-16, 6-6 MEAC), winners of three straight, swept the season series with the win and has now won three straight over the Lady Bears, who fell to 11-16, 4-8 MEAC.
 
Ojukwu shot 6-of-11 from the floor and connected on 8-of-13 from the free throw line, while adding two steals and a game-high two blocks, as Morgan State suffered its fourth consecutive loss. Ja'la Bannerman, who began her collegiate career at UMES, scored nine points, had a team-high three steals and recorded a team-high three assists in her first game back to the Hytche Center as a member of the Lady Bears. Nia Green added seven point and five boards and Jael Butler finished with six points, a steal and a rebound.
 
The Hawks were led by Ce'nara Skanes, who came off the bench to record a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Zamara Haynes totaled 13 points, a game-high four assists and a game-high four steals and a block. Brianna Barnes also came off the bench and finished with 13 points, while Mahogany Lester added 10 points, six rebounds and collected three steals, as the Hawks totaled 12 steals as a team.
 
UMES shot 46% (25-of-54) for the game and went 17-of-24 (71%) from the charity line. The Hawks scored 32 points in the paint and had 45 points come from their bench.
 
Morgan State shot 21-of-49 (43%) and was 14-of-23 (61%) from the free throw line. Both teams shot an identical 3-for-10 (30%) from three-point range.
 
The guests scored the first four points of the game, but the Hawks closed out the opening quarter using a 17-8 run to take a 17-12 advantage after one quarter of play.
 
A three-pointer by Emily Jones brought Morgan within four points at 22-18 with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter. The Hawks then used a 9-2 spurt capped off by a layup from Skanes to give UMES a 31-20 lead with 3:13 left in the first half.
 
Ojukwu would score the final four points of the half to cut the UMES deficit to 33-26 at the intermission.
 
Morgan State trailed 35-30 with 8:58 remaining in the third period, when the Lady Bears were hit with what has hindered them all season, a scoring drought. UMES would use a 9-0 run over the next six minutes to extend its cushion to 14 points at 44-30. Ojukwu would hit the second of a pair of free throws to stop the scoreless drought with 2:55 left in the third and Morgan down 44-31.
 
But the Hawks would close out with a 10-7 run to take a 54-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Lady Bears would get as close as nine points three times in the fourth quarter with the last coming on a layup from Ojukwu at the 2:38 mark to cut the Hawks lead to 62-53.

The Lady Bears will return home for the final time this season on Monday, March 3 to host Delaware State in a MEAC contest at 5:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. It will be Senior Night for the Lady Bears, who will honor Emily Jones, Laila Fair and Nakilah Johnson prior to the game.
 
 
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.
 
  Read Full Article