Junior Janelle Lane topped Coppin State with 17 points.BALTIMORE – Coppin State closed its non-conference schedule with a 63-52 setback to Virginia Commonwealth Sunday afternoon in the Physical Education Complex.
The Eagles (1-10) were led by junior guard
Janelle Lane with 17 points. This is her 13th career game and sixth time this season scoring double figures.
Amber Griffin finished with eight points and a game-best five assists.
Jordan Swails also added eight points while
Keena Samuels notched six points.
Omaah Tayong grabbed 10 rebounds a second time this season. She has four career games with 10 or more rebounds.
Coppin State went into the locker room trailing 34-30 at halftime after closing a 14-point deficit. The Eagles entered the second half ready to soar but Lane was charged with an offensive foul, which wiped away the tying basket. The call seemed to turn the momentum in favor of the Rams as they went on a 9-0 run.
"We played hard," veteran head coach
Derek Brown said. "Our defense was better this week but we just didn't score when we needed to. We need to get our offense to be more fluid. If we play defense in practice as hard as we played defense today then that becomes instinctive and natural to them. If you work that hard every day then it's easy out there on the floor. The games become easier than practice and that's what you want to happen. We're moving in the right direction."
VCU (8-4) finished with three players scoring double figures. Keira Robinson topped the team with 21 points. Adaeze Alaeze and Isis Thorpe had 15 and 12 points, respectively. Camille Calhoun brought down a game-high 13 rebounds.
The real season for Coppin State's women's basketball team begins next Monday when it opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play against Norfolk State at 6 p.m.
The Lady Eagles have some adjustments to make going into conference action.
"We have to learn to finish, which is going to be a scary situation when we get into MEAC play and get into a close game," Brown said. "Are we going to know how to finish when we haven't had to do that all season? That's going to be something new to us."
Although Coppin State had a very trying non-conference schedule, Brown knows MEAC foes will be just as challenging.
"As far as next week is concerned, it's a new season," Brown said. "We're 0-0 going into the MEAC. I don't expect things to be any easier, at least that's what the team has to realize. They have to get better in practice each and every day. I think if we play as hard as we played today and play smarter I think we'll be okay."
