LADY HAWKS COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT HARFORD

January 8, 2005 - In a wild game in the Hawks Nest, the CSM women's basketball team came from behind to defeat Harford 77-73. 

    It looked like the Hawks (5-7, 1-4) would win in a blow out, as CSM jumped out to an early lead, and led the entire first half.  With 10:50 left, Dana Ashton's jumper gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the half at 20-6.  CSM's box and one on Tameka McDonald, Harford's leading scorer, and smothering zone defense frustrated the Owls in the early going.

    However Harford (5-9) adjusted, and slowly worked their way back into the game, outscoring CSM 19-10 over the last ten minutes of the half to cut the CSM lead to 30-25 at the break.

    Harford continued their run in the second half, and finally gained their first lead of the game 41-40 on Alisha Brown's three pointer with 15:00 left.  Harford continued to increase the lead with fastbreak baskets off CSM misses and turnovers, and dominated the offense boards to increase the lead to as much as 11 pts mid-way through the 2nd half.  The Hawks didn't help their effort with some poor passes that led to turnovers and fastbreaks for Harford. 

    CSM slowly begin to battle back until they were able to tie the game 71-71 on Kaleigh Gray's 3 pointer with 1:48 left in the game. 

    Harford worked the ball inside on their next possession, but CSM was able to block the shot, and Danielle Sturman scored on a 2 on 1 fastbreak to give the Hawks a 73-71 lead with 1:19 left.

    On the next possession, Tameka McDonald palmed the ball as she tried to dribble across the lane.

    Sherrese Russell's lay-up off a missed shot gave CSM a 75-71 lead, but McDonald came right back for Harford with a short jumper to cut the margin to two at 75-73 with 19 seconds left. 

    Forced to foul, McDonald fouled out with 6.1 seconds left, and Sherrese Russell hit one of two free throws to put CSM in front 76-73. 

    Trying to set up a final three pointer, Rudy Johnson caught the ball at half-court, but traveled as she looked for an open receiver for a final 3 point attempt.  Russell added a final free throw for CSM to give the Hawks their final 77-73 margin.

    Tameka McDonald led all scorer's with 26 points, and Rudy Johnson added 24 for Harford. 

    Kaleigh Gray led CSM with 24 points, and scored eight big points in the Hawks final run to tie the game.  Danielle Sturman had 14 points and had some key rebounds for CSM, and Sherrese Russell also added 14 points, and  those key baskets and free throws at the end of the game.

    The Hawks return to action Monday evening, when they will face Baltimore in a 5:30 PM game in the Hawks Nest,  followed by a men's game against Frederick at 7:30 PM.