BALTIMORE – Angel Jones and
Laila Lawrence combined for 42 points in their Coppin State debuts as the Eagles dropped its season-opener to La Salle, 73-68 on Monday night at PEC Arena.
A sophomore from Alexandria, Va., Jones went off for a career-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and a pair of 3-pointers while matching a career-high with seven rebounds. Lawrence notched a double-double with 20 points and ten rebounds along with two blocks and three steals while hitting 8-of-14 from the floor.
Mossi Staples also finished in double figures with ten points, draining a pair of threes, and matching a career-high with six steals.
Faith Blackstone added eight points as
Tyler Gray and
Tiffany Hammond had five and three points, respectively, and leading the team with two assists apiece.
La Salle outshot Coppin, 50.9% to 32.9% and outrebounded the Eagles, 48-34, but Coppin forced a whopping 32 turnovers which translated into 24 extra-shot attempts and 34 points off turnovers.
How it Happened
- La Salle took an early six-point lead which dwindled away before the end of the first quarter.
- The Explorers built their lead to as many as 29-18 with 4:05 left in the half, but Coppin closed the period on a 12-3 run behind four points apiece from Staples and Lawrence before Jones buried a jump in the final minute.
- La Salle hit back-to-back threes to open the second half, extending its advantage back to eight, but CSU roared back, taking their first lead since early in the game on a three by Hammond at 46-44 with 2:41 remaining in the third.
- Jones and Lawrence had five points apiece during the long stretch and Lawrence added three more points before quarter's end, giving the Eagles a 49-46 advantage.
- Staples matched a three by the Explorers to start the second half, and CSU got a free throw from Jones and a three from Gray to go up, 56-49 with 8:00 left to play.
- La Salle tied the score with a pair of threes and a free throw before Lawrence stopped the drought with a jumper in the painted area, but the Explorers regained the lead with a three and held on the rest of the way.
- Looking to tie the score after trailing, 71-68 with 1:48 remaining, Coppin turned it over and missed three shot attempts over the final 100 seconds.
Up Next: Coppin is back home on Thursday, November 9 when it hosts Campbell in a 5 pm start.
