The Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team made history Thursday night.
The Fighting Hawks, second in the regular season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings, zoomed by host Wake Forest 59-48 in the opening round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
The win is the first postseason victory in UMES women’s hoops history.
UMES (19-14) trailed 48-45 with less than five minutes to go in regulation, then went on a 14-0 run to clinch the upset. First-year guard Desi Taylor scored 11 of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, including the first eight points of the Hawks’ final run.
Taylor’s three-pointer with 3:40 to go in the fourth gave Maryland Eastern Shore the lead for good at 50-48. Baskets by Kaliya Perry, Jaida Cameron and Taylor sealed the deal for UMES, who moves on to play at Youngstown State (OH) Sunday March 22 at a time to be determined.
Perry added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who held the held the Demon Deacons to 31.9 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers.
