PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Interstat) — Ashanti Lynch scored 28 points to lead Maryland-Eastern Shore to a 68-61 overtime victory over Coppin State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at William P. Hytche Center. The Hawks improved to 11-10 overall, while the Eagles fell to 4-15. Lynch, a guard from Hookerton, North Carolina, fueled a strong start for the Hawks, who led 21-15 after the first quarter. Coppin State chipped away and forced overtime with a 22-point fourth quarter, capped by a Paris McBride 3-pointer. Maryland-Eastern Shore dominated the extra period, outscoring the Eagles 7-0. Khila Morris led Coppin State with 14 points. Both teams committed 27 turnovers in a sloppy contest before a crowd of 950.

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Interstat) — Ashanti Lynch scored a game-high 28 points, including two critical free throws in the final minute of overtime, to lift Maryland-Eastern Shore to a 68-61 victory over Coppin State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at William P. Hytche Center. The Hawks improved to 11-10 overall, while the Eagles fell to 4-15. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds of regulation, transforming what appeared to be a comfortable Maryland-Eastern Shore lead into a dramatic extra period. The Hawks led 61-58 after a 3-pointer from Desi Taylor with 28 seconds remaining. Coppin State, which had mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, answered immediately. Paris McBride sank a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left, assisted by Khila Morris, to tie the game at 61. Maryland-Eastern Shore had a chance to win in regulation, but a missed 3-pointer by Erin Henry as time expired sent the game to overtime, where the Hawks ultimately seized control. The overtime period was defined by defense and clutch free-throw shooting. Both teams struggled offensively in the extra frame, combining for just 15 points. Maryland-Eastern Shore scored the first basket on a Kaliya Perry layup and never relinquished the lead. The Hawks sealed the game at the foul line, with Lynch making two free throws with 18 seconds left and Perry adding two more with nine seconds remaining to extend the lead to seven points. Lynch, a 5-foot-9 guard from Hookerton, North Carolina, was the catalyst throughout for the Hawks, playing 43 minutes and adding two assists to her 28 points. Her performance continued a strong stretch of play, following a 23-point outing against Morgan State on Jan. 3. Perry added 11 points and two blocks for Maryland-Eastern Shore. For Coppin State, Khila Morris led the way with 14 points, three assists and a block. Sydney Burris and Skylar Barnes each contributed 12 points. The Eagles were hampered by 27 turnovers, which Maryland-Eastern Shore converted into 20 points. Coppin State also struggled from beyond the arc, making just 2 of 16 3-point attempts. The game was a sloppy, defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams committing 27 turnovers. Maryland-Eastern Shore held a slight edge in efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 79.6 on 85 possessions compared to Coppin State’s 69.8 on 87 possessions. The Hawks also dominated inside, outscoring the Eagles 32-24 in the paint. Maryland-Eastern Shore built an early lead, taking a 21-15 advantage after the first quarter behind 11 points from Lynch. The Hawks maintained a 33-27 lead at halftime and extended it to 46-39 by the end of the third quarter. Coppin State mounted its comeback in the fourth, outscoring the Hawks 22-15 behind aggressive defense and timely scoring to force overtime. Kalise Hill provided key playmaking for Maryland-Eastern Shore with eight points and four assists in 41 minutes. For Coppin State, point guard Paris McBride played all 45 minutes, finishing with nine points and two assists. The announced attendance was 950. Maryland-Eastern Shore will travel to face North Carolina Central on Thursday, Jan. 22. Coppin State returns home to host South Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Preview: Coppin State Eagles at Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Interstat) — A pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Thursday when the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks host the Coppin State Eagles. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. EST tipoff at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. Maryland-Eastern Shore (10-10, 3-0 MEAC) enters on a three-game conference winning streak, most recently defeating Howard 62-56 on Saturday. The Hawks have found momentum in league play after a challenging non-conference schedule. Coppin State (4-14, 2-1) snapped a five-game skid with a 77-70 victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday. The Eagles will look to build on that performance and secure a second straight MEAC win. A key matchup will feature each team’s top recent performer. Hawks guard Brianna Barnes is coming off a season-high 22 points in the win over Howard. Over her last five games, Barnes is averaging 14.2 points, showcasing her ability to carry the scoring load. For the Eagles, forward Shanaii Gamble is a consistent presence on the boards. She nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds in the win over North Carolina Central. Gamble has averaged 8.2 rebounds over her last five contests. The Hawks have relied on balanced scoring and defense during their MEAC start, holding conference opponents to an average of 59 points per game. Coppin State’s offense, which averages just 54.6 points per game for the season, will be tested. In their Saturday win, the Eagles received significant contributions from Khila Morris (16 points, seven assists) and Paris McBride (17 points). This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will meet again in Baltimore on Feb. 21. Following this contest, Maryland-Eastern Shore continues its MEAC schedule on the road at North Carolina Central on Jan. 22. Coppin State returns home to face South Carolina State on Jan. 18.