ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — The Maryland-Eastern Shore women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter defensive performance to pull away from South Carolina State and secure a 73-53 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Wednesday night at SHM Memorial Center.

The Hawks, who improved to 13-11 overall, held the Bulldogs to just four points in the pivotal third period, turning a narrow 34-36 halftime deficit into a commanding 54-40 lead entering the final quarter. South Carolina State fell to 5-16.

The game was a tight, back-and-forth affair for the first 20 minutes. Maryland-Eastern Shore led 17-16 after a first quarter defined by early physical play and frequent turnovers. South Carolina State found a rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 20-17 to take a two-point lead into the locker room. Angie Juste-Jean, who finished with 13 points for the Bulldogs, and Heaven Harper, who added 10, provided the offensive spark for the home team.

The complexion of the game changed entirely after halftime. The Hawks emerged with intensified defensive pressure, disrupting passing lanes and forcing South Carolina State into a series of rushed and errant shots. The Bulldogs managed only a single field goal in the entire quarter, a layup by Bianca Glover with 4:08 remaining. They committed seven turnovers in the period, which Maryland-Eastern Shore converted into transition opportunities.

Offensively, the Hawks found consistency inside and out. Ashanti Lynch, who led all scorers with 18 points, hit a critical three-pointer early in the quarter to ignite a 13-0 run that spanned nearly six minutes. Kalise Hill, who contributed 13 points and four assists, orchestrated the offense, while Dayshawna Carter added 12 points and was a persistent force on the defensive end with multiple steals during the decisive surge.

Maryland-Eastern Shore’s bench also provided a significant lift, outscoring South Carolina State’s reserves. Brianna Barnes was particularly effective in limited minutes, scoring nine points, all in the second half, to help extend the lead.

South Carolina State, which shot a frigid percentage from the field during its third-quarter drought, never recovered. While the Bulldogs outscored the Hawks 13-19 in the fourth quarter, the deficit was too large to overcome. Feliah Greer led South Carolina State with seven assists but was hampered by turnovers.

The Hawks controlled the glass and capitalized on their free-throw opportunities down the stretch to seal the conference road win. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s Dakieran Turner played a steady all-around game with four points and three assists in 32 minutes.

The victory snaps a brief one-game skid for Maryland-Eastern Shore, which lost at North Carolina Central on Monday. South Carolina State has now lost three consecutive games.

Maryland-Eastern Shore continues its MEAC schedule on the road at Morgan State on Saturday. South Carolina State will travel to face Howard, also on Saturday.

An announced crowd of 250 attended the game at SHM Memorial Center.