BOWIE, MD --- The Bowie State women's basketball team will begin its 2024-25 season with an exhibition on Saturday, Nov. 9 as the Bulldogs travel to Maryland Eastern Shore as part of the Hawks Homecoming celebration. The contest will be the first of the doubleheader on the day and is slated to tip-off at 2 p.m. from the Hytche Athletic Center in Princess Anne, Md.

When: Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. 
Where: Princess Anne, MD (Hytche Athletic Center) 
Tickets: Click Here 
Watch: BSUBulldogs.com 
Live Stats: BSUBulldogs.com 
Follow on Twitter: @BSU_Sports_Info 
Follow on Instagram: @BowieStateBulldogs 

Know Before You Go
Fans must secure their tickets online via https://ticketing.roninpos.app/events/umes_basketball. Credit and debit cards may be processed at available kiosks located near the main entrance of the Hytche Athletic Center. Large bags, backpacks and any other items over dimensions of 4 x 6 inches are not allowed.

About Bowie State
The Bulldogs finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-14 record and 7-9 mark against league opponents under the leadership of head coach Shadae Swan whom will be entering her 10th season at the helm. Bowie State six players from last year's roster including Mia Smith whom will look to carry most of the load offensively, the Clarksburg, Md., native averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 40-percent from the field. 

BSU adds 10 players to this year's roster including a pair of transfer highlighted by Destiny Ryles who posted 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game and led the Firebirds to their first ECC Tournament semi-final appearance since 2016 last season. She led the conference in steals and assists and was second in points per game. She ranked fifth in the nation in assists and 6th in steals and was also one of 12 players in the country to record a triple-double this season. Ryles was a 4X ECC Player of the Week honoree and earned seven Honor Roll spots during 2023-24. Ryles was named to the ECC First-Team for the second consecutive year and also hit both her 1,000th career point and 500th career rebound last season. 

Maryland Eastern Shore
UMES finished 15-15 overall and 8-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Hawks were picked to finish sixth in this year's preseason poll while Mahogany Lester and Zamara Haynes were two players named Preseason All-MEAC. Lester was Second Team All-MEAC a season ago, averaging 7.4 points per game across 30 starts with a 47.5 shooting percentage. She also added 174 rebounds, 28 assists, 46 steals and 14 blocks through the season.

Haynes earned her spot on the Third Team All-MEAC after a season in which she averaged 8.6 points per game, including a season-high of 23 against UMBC, while playing in all 30 games. She also notched 103 total rebounds while dishing out 56 assists. She added 37 steals and a trio of blocks on the defensive end, as well.

The Hawks are led by Malikah Willis in her first season.

Looking Ahead
Following Saturday's season opener, the Bulldogs will travel to Pennsylvania to take on California (PA) on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5:40 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.