Final Showdown: Women’s Basketball Hosts Mount St. Mary’s to Wrap Up 2024 Season

Game 15 (Non-Conference)
Morgan State (6-8) versus Mount St. Mary’s (2-8)
Date: Monday, Dec. 30, 2024
Location: Baltimore, Md. (Hill Field House)
Tip-off: 2 p.m.
Series Record: Morgan State leads, 8-7
Television: ESPN+
Audio: Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com)
Live Statistics: Here
Websites: MorganStateBears.com | mountathletics.com
 
BALTIMORE, Md. (Dec. 21, 2024)–Morgan State will conclude 2024 and its non-conference schedule on Monday, Dec. 30, when the Lady Bears host Mount St. Mary’s at Hill Field House for a 2 p.m. tip-off broadcast live on ESPN+. The Lady Bears aim to finish the year with a win and maintain their perfect home record this season in non-conference competitions, extending their home winning streak to five games. The last occasion when Morgan State completed the first segment of the schedule undefeated at home against non-conference rivals was during the 2022-23 campaign, finishing 6-0.
 
MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RADIO: All home games and selected away matches for MSU men’s and women’s basketball will again be accessible through the Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com). Lamont Germany will take charge of play-by-play, as well as hosting pre-game and post-game segments, featuring exclusive interviews with team members and women’s coach Ed Davis and men’s coach Kevin Broadus. Supporters can download the HSRN app for free to listen to the MSU broadcasts from any location by simply searching for HSRN on the iHeartRadio platform.

BEAR CLAWS: Morgan State (6-8) achieved a split outcome in Puerto Rico at the Puerto Rico Clasico (Dec. 18-19). Morgan State started with a 54-41 win over Presbyterian, marking its second all-time victory in the tournament. Nia Green came off the bench to top the team with a game-high 14 points from 6-of-9 shooting, alongside five rebounds and a game-high five steals. Junior Gabrielle Johnson recorded 12 points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal. Morgan State forced the Blue Hose to commit 33 turnovers, a season-high for the opponent in the win. The Lady Bears then succumbed to a 56-39 defeat against Cleveland State. Tamaria Rumph concluded with nine points, three assists, and two steals, all team highs. Johnson contributed seven points, while Jael Butler secured a team-high eight rebounds.

 

A LOOK AT THE MOUNT: Mount St. Mary’s (2-8, 0-2 MAAC) is experiencing a two-game losing streak, having faced back-to-back losses in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) against Marist at home, 61-50 in overtime on Dec. 19, and a 76-61 defeat at Fairfield on Dec. 21. Jo Raflo led Mount St. Mary’s in their recent game against Fairfield, achieving a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, marking her second career double-double. Anna LeMaster and Gabrielle Kennerly each contributed 14 points. The Mountaineers were projected to finish seventh in this season’s MAAC standings. Senior Jo Raflo earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.

 

MSU VS. MSM SERIES NOTES: Morgan State leads the all-time series, 8-7. The Lady Bears and The Mount last faced off in 2017, with Morgan State securing a 75-67 victory in Baltimore (11/26/17).

NEXT UP: Morgan State will take a break until Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, when they commence Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play against South Carolina State at 2 p.m. at Hill Field House.

 

NON-CONFERENCE FEAST: Since Coach Davis took charge of the women’s squad, Morgan State has thrived against non-conference rivals on their home turf. Leading up to Monday’s matchup with Mount St. Mary’s, the Lady Bears boast a 30-7 record at Hill Field House against non-conference teams since the 2016-17 season. Morgan State has managed to remain undefeated at home against non-conference opponents on five occasions, including 6-0 records during the 2017-18 and 2022-23 seasons.

Home Record against non-conference teams

2016-17 (1-2)

2017-18 (6-0)

2018-19 (2-3)

2019-20 (3-0)

2020-21 (3-0) abbreviated schedule due to Covid

2021-22 (3-0)

2022-23 (6-0)

2023-24 (3-2)

2024-25 (4-0)

 

GREEN HAS SEASON BEST OUTING: Freshman Nia Green notched a season-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded a season-best five steals in the Lady Bears’ victory over Presbyterian during the Puerto Rico Clasico opener (12/18). The 14 points marked her inaugural double-digit performance, while the five steals represented her first game with multiple steals this season.

 

MORGAN SECURES SECOND WIN IN PUERTO RICO: Morgan State commenced the 2024 Puerto Rico Clasico with a 54-41 triumph over Presbyterian (12/18). The win marked the Lady Bears’ second all-time victory in Puerto Rico, as well as their second consecutive triumph in the tournament, dating back to last season’s 53-51 win over UNC Asheville (11/24/23) in the final.

 

FAIR PULLS DOWN CAREER-HIGH 20 REBOUNDS: Senior forward Laila Fair achieved a career-best 20 rebounds during the loss at Old Dominion (11/11). Fair, who also contributed 16 points, registered a double-double, securing 15 of her 20 rebounds on the defensive side. Her 20 boards surpassed her previous career high of 14 rebounds, which she attained twice last season in consecutive games against Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State.

 

CHARM CITY HOOPS CLASSIC: Morgan State recorded a 1-1 outcome for the second straight season in the Charm City Hoops Classic. The Lady Bears triumphed over Towson, 64-63 at home (11/14), prior to succumbing to UMBC on the road, 81-72 (11/17). In 2023, local rivals Morgan State, Towson, and UMBC agreed to compete against each other annually in both men’s and women’s basketball, branded as the Charm City Hoops Classic. Last year, the Lady Bears also split their games in the inaugural classic, falling to Towson (80-69) on the road before defeating UMBC (65-42) at home. The three institutions previously participated in the Battle of Baltimore series for six years from the 1997-98 season through the 2002-03 campaign.

 

MORGAN RANKED FIFTH IN MEAC: The Morgan State Lady Bears were chosen to finish fifth in the 2024-25 MEAC Preseason poll. The Lady Bears, who ranked seventh last season, garnered 63 points. Defending MEAC regular season and tournament champions Norfolk State and Howard were labeled as co-preseason favorites, each earning 117 points. The Spartans received 11 of the 16 first-place votes, while Howard claimed the remaining five.


FAIR SELECTED FOR MEAC PRESEASON 3RD TEAM: Senior forward Laila Fair has been chosen for the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team. Although she participated in only 15 games and made 12 starts, Fair led the Lady Bears in rebounding with an average of 7.1 boards per game and ranked second in scoring with 8.5 points while playing 25.6 minutes per contest. A resident of Middlesex, N.J., Fair also topped Morgan State with 22 blocked shots, in addition to registering 18 steals and 10 assists.

 

MORGAN IN SEASON OPENERS: The Lady Bears improved their record to 15-33 in season openers dating back to 1977, after their 70-60 win against Shepherd (11/4/24). Morgan State had previously suffered 23 consecutive losses in season openers before securing three consecutive wins from 2006-08.

 

FOLLOWING COACH DAVIS: Morgan State’s head coach Edward Davis achieved his 113th career coaching triumph at Morgan, after the Lady Bears’ 54-41 victory against Presbyterian (12/18) in the Puerto Rico Clasico. Davis, who took the reins of the Morgan State women’s program for the 2016-17 season, is currently ranked third all-time on the career coaching victories list.

 

EDUCATION DAY: Morgan State will host its second annual Education Day on Wednesday, Nov. 20, when the Lady Bears take on Washington Adventist at 11 a.m. at Hill Field House.

 

MORGAN IN THE PUERTO RICO CLASICO: Before the Christmas holiday break, the Lady Bears will mark their seventh appearance in the Puerto Rico Clasico event and sixth visit to Puerto Rico. Morgan State will compete against Presbyterian on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. and will face Cleveland State on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. The Lady Bears, who hold a 1-10 historical record in the tournament, secured their inaugural win with a 53-51 triumph over UNC Asheville to conclude last year’s tournament. Morgan first participated in the event during the 2016-17 season and attended for four consecutive years from 2016-20. The 2017 tournament was relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. due to Hurricane Maria’s devastation. Morgan State opted not to attend during the 2020-21 season because of a shortened schedule as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

WELCOME TO THE CAVE: Morgan State is excited to introduce nine newcomers to the 2024-25 program this season. Four junior transfers: Ja’la Bannerman, Kimora Daly, Zaiha Minnis, and Success Prysock; two sophomore transfers, Naya Ojukwu and Maya Woodson; and three freshmen, Michaela Bogans, Nia Green, and Kimora Lopez.

 

SAYING FAREWELL: The Lady Bears will bid farewell to three players at the end of the home schedule: four-year member Emily Jones alongside two-year members Laila Fair and Nakilah Johnson. Morgan State will celebrate its seniors on ‘Senior Night’ when the Lady Bears host Delaware State on Monday, March 3 in the home finale at Hill Field House.

 

2025 MEAC TOURNAMENT: The 2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men’s and women’s basketball tournament is set for March 12-15, 2025 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. The annual MEAC Basketball Tournament transitioned to Norfolk in 2013 after being held for the previous four years in Winston-Salem, N.C. from 2009 to 2012.

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ABOUT MORGAN

Morgan State University, established in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering almost 140 academic programs that lead to degrees ranging from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the sole university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan is committed to serving a diverse and multiethnic student population and endeavors to keep the doors of higher education as accessible as possible. For further details about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.