Thomas Career-Night Not Enough, NCCU Falls to UMES

PRINCESS ANNE, MD — Freshman guard Diamond Thomas drilled five 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 21 points for the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team in an 81-59 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss at University of Maryland Eastern Shore Monday evening.

The Hawks had their second-best shooting percentage of the season (54.8%), including a scorching 67.9-percent accuracy from the floor in the second half to end a six-game losing streak and pick up their first conference win. Eastern Shore (5-10 Overall, 1-2 MEAC) received scoring from all 12 Hawks that took the court.

Thomas, who had already scored 18 points twice in her rookie campaign, tallied 15 of her game-high 21 points from behind the arc. However, no other Eagle made a 3-pointer in the contest and NCCU shot just 27.1-percent from the field to dash their chances at a second straight triumph. Thomas also made a game-high three steals.

Maryland Eastern Shore held a single-digit edge for most of the first half by outrebounding the Eagles, 26-19, and scoring twice as many points in the paint, 16-8. NCCU held a one-possession lead on three occasions in the first half, but cold shooting had the Eagles trailing most of the time.

Thomas swished back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter and she made another trey late the second quarter to pace the maroon and gray at the intermission with nine points. NCCU was still within striking distance at halftime, trailing by seven points (34-27).

The Hawks then soared away by doubling up the Eagles, 22-11, in the third quarter to extend their lead to 18 points (56-38) heading into the final quarter. A couple more baskets by Thomas pulled NCCU within four points twice early in the second half before Eastern Shore finished the third quarter on a 19-5 run that featured a trio of Hawks each scoring consecutive baskets for the home team.

Eastern Shore swished 64.3-percent of its shots in the third quarter and increased that percentage to 71.4-percent in the fourth quarter to prevail by 22 points.

Senior Taylor Clayborne led the dozen Hawk scorers with 15 points. Freshman Ariana Sewell had season-high totals of 12 points and 10 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double.

Junior Kira Lowery scored 13 points for her third double-digit point performance against conference competition. Lowery made all seven of her free-throw attempts as NCCU did swish 22-of-27 (81.5%) total free throw attempts.

Sophomore Paris McBride chipped in nine points and senior Ashlyn Lockard contributed eight points and a team-best six rebounds.

NC Central (2-12 Overall, 1-4 MEAC) next returns home to host MEAC foe Howard University on Saturday at 2 p.m.

(Courtesy of NCCU Athletics & Kevin Dorsey)