PRINCESS ANNE, MD --- Junior center Victoria Gonzales tied her career-high of 24 points and senior forward Cheyenne Brown added 11, but the Howard women's basketball team was unable to secure a season sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore as the Lady Hawks earned a 61-54 victory over the Lady Bison in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action Monday evening at the Hytche Athletic Center.

With in-game injuries to starters junior guard Imani Bailey and sophomore guard Jasmine Hill affecting the team's play, Gonzales put the Lady Bison (3-22, 3-9 MEAC) on her back, scoring 13 of her points in the second half. Her three-point play and a subsequent field goal gave Howard a five-point lead at the 9:59 mark.

But with Howard only having six healthy players in uniform, UMES (10-13, 7-6 MEAC) took advantage of the Lady Bison's easily fatigued roster, going on a 19-7 run to close out the game.

UMES starters Jessica Long, Shawnee Sweeney and reserve Mariah McCoy did most of the damage, combining for all of their team's points down the stretch.

Cheyenne Brown tallied seven of her 11 after intermission. Howard lost Bailey to an unspecified injury for most of the first half and a portion of the second and would later lose Jasmine Hill to an ankle injury that would prevent her from returning to the game.

Gonzales grabbed ten rebounds to log her team-leading third double-double of the season and second in three games. She also tied another career-high with five blocks during her 37 minutes of play.

Brown recorded a double-double as well by pulling down ten rebounds of her own. It was her first double-double since the season opener at North Carolina on November 14.

UMES placed four players in double figures: Long finished with 16, McCoy with 13 off the bench and Kelly and Sweeney with each.

NEXT UP: Howard starts its final road trip of the season before the MEAC Tournament with a contest against Savannah State on Saturday, February 21 at 4 p.m.