Women's Basketball | 12/18/2014 10:41:00 AM
BALTIMORE – With the Coppin State women's basketball team hosting 14th-ranked Maryland on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., this is a perfect time to look back at the last meeting and the special season that was 2007-08.
Having the Terrapins play at Coppin State is a big deal. They are the highest ranked opponent to ever play at the Physical Education Complex since it opened in 2009.
The 80-66 loss to Maryland in the first round of the 2008 NCAA tournament marked the end of the careers of arguably, two of the best women's players to ever wear a Coppin State uniform, Rashida Suber and Shalamar Oakley. During their time together, the duo simply terrorized the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
They combined to score an amazing total of 3,185 points. Suber departed as the all-time leading scorer with 1,865 points. Oakley was fifth when she left with 1,320 points. She is now sixth.
What Suber and Oakley accomplished during their careers should never be forgotten. They were part of an amazing run during the mid-2000's. They helped the Eagles win 69 games and post three consecutive 20-win seasons. Coppin State made two trips to the NCAA tournament and one to the WNIT during that time.
Suber was named the MEAC Player of the Year in 2007 while Oakley won the honor in 2008. In addition to being the all-time scoring queen, Suber is also Coppin State's all-time leader in 3-pointers (245), field goals (728) and steals (307). Meanwhile, Oakley led the Eagles in assists for three straight seasons. She ended her career second all-time in assists (326) and steals (287).
Suber and Oakley went down firing against Maryland in that NCAA tournament game in which the Eagles, in the minds of many received a raw deal from the selection committee. Despite having to travel a short distance and play on Maryland's home floor, the Eagles made their presence felt. It should be noted that Terrapins team had four players on their team that were eventually high WNBA draft picks.
Suber scored 25 points. Oakley added 20 along with eight rebounds and five assists. Whitney Cunningham also finished with 11 points and six rebounds in that contest. Coppin State made more field goals (27-24) than the Terrapins and had fewer turnovers (16-15). The Eagles also shot 46.6 percent.
After falling behind, 15-6 early in the game, Suber and Oakley went to work and showed everybody their big-time talent and scoring ability.
It began with an innocent layup by Suber. Then Oakley made two free throws, and a jumper. And by the time those two got finished playing this little round of 2-on-5, they had combined for 14 straight points to put Coppin State ahead 20-15.
The Eagles weren't done. After Maryland pulled even, Oakley answered with a three-point play. Then the Terrapins went ahead 34-27, and Coppin responded by holding Maryland without a field goal for the final three minutes of the half. Coppin State trailed 40-35 at halftime and 45-41 early in the second half.
"Obviously we got there attention right from the start," Suber said. "Once the game started, we never backed down. We prepared very well and never backed down."
Following the game, Coppin State head coach
Derek Brown shared with everybody what Oakley and Suber meant to the program.
"They're two young ladies that put their heart into every practice and every game," Brown said. "Rashida was a little tough to teach defense to, but as of last year, she became a very good defender. Since they arrived here (Coppin State) they've been nothing but winners. We talked about it in the locker room a few minutes ago that their leadership will be gone and I don't know who's going to step up and be the leader or leaders ... They'll be very had to replace."
