BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Carroll Smith)
(COLLEGE PARK, Md.) Bowie State University officially began its 2009-2010 season, playing an exhibition against the University of Maryland at the Comcast Center. The Terps had no trouble defeating Bowie State's Lady Bulldogs 90-48.
The Lady Bulldogs began the game missing their first seven shots before junior Bianca Lee (Temple Hills, MD, Archbishop Carroll) scored Bowie State's first field goal at the 17:03 mark. By that time, Maryland had run off 10 straight points. Maryland held Bowie State to single digits until BSU sophomore Juliette Turner (Silver Spring, MD, John F. Kennedy) scored a jumper, but the Terps lead increased to 25-10. The Maryland dominance continued with the home team heading into halftime with a very comfortable 48-21 advantage.
Maryland shot well for the perimeter in the first half, hitting 16-of-29 from the floor, which included five-of-13 behind the arc. As for Bowie State, the Lady Bulldogs made just eight-of-36 from the field and three-of-16 behind the arc.
The Maryland lead swelled to as much as 42 points (78-36) with 8:08 left to play in the game. Bowie State's second half shooting percentage improved slightly, but the Lady Bulldogs ended the evening at 26 percent from the field. Sophomore Brianna Taylor (Upper Marlboro, MD, Riverdale Baptist School, Cheyney) led Bowie State in scoring with 11 points and junior Teaunsha Robinson (Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Polytechnic) and Lee added 10 points each.
Hawkins led four Terps in scoring with 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds, both game-highs. Other Maryland players to score in double figures include Kim Rogers with 18 points and Lori Bjork along with Kim Rogers chipped in 10 each. As a team, the Maryland Terps made almost as many free throws as Bowie State had in field goals. Maryland converted 16-of-25 from the charity stripe compared to 19-of-74 field goals for Bowie State.
Maryland concluded the evening shooting 48 percent from the floor (33-of-69) and the Terps out-rebounded the Lady Bulldogs 63 to 36. Senior Flodysha Peterson (Cambridge, MD, Cambridge South Dorchester, Garrett C.C.)came off the bench to lead Bowie State in rebounds, grabbing a team-high seven.
Second-year head coach Donna Polk was pleased, if you will, with the number of Bowie State's turnovers (14) against Division I Maryland, but wasn't happen with the focus of her Lady Bulldogs. “We know what we're capable of and have to work harder and not focused enough yet to be where we want to be”, said Polk
Bowie State's Lady Bulldogs are the preseason favorite to win the CIAA Eastern Division. The Terrapins predicted to finish fifth in the ACC Pre-Season Poll and are ranked 21st in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll.
Bowie State will open the regular season Sunday, November 15 against Gannon University of Pennsylvania in the opening round of the Clarion (Pa.) University Tip-Off Classic.
