Coppin State returns home to face Bethune-Cookman

Women's Basketball | 1/15/2015 7:00:00 PM

BALTIMORE – The Coppin State women's basketball team welcomes Bethune-Cookman to the Physical Education Complex for its first home stand in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.

SERIES HISTORY
It has been two years since the Wildcats and Eagles have faced each other. With the hiatus, Coppin State trails in the all-time series, 30-24. When the two teams met in 2013, Coppin State pulled out a 53-40 win. The Eagles have been victorious over the Wildcats in their past three meetings. During head coach Derek Brown's tenure, Coppin State is 21-5 against B-CU.

LAST TIME OUT
Junior guard Jordan Swails was a scoring force in Coppin States 68-66 setback to Howard University last Saturday. Swails notched a career-best 20 points, 15 of which were scored in the second half. She also added a career-high nine rebounds. Amber Griffin tallied 12 points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists. Omaah Tayong finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a block. The two teams were evenly matched, both forcing 21 turnovers and headed into the locker rooms tied at 34. Throughout the second half, Coppin State was plagued by foul calls that slowed its momentum. The Eagles (2-11 overall, 1-1 MEAC) out rebounded the Bison 44-38 and scored 44 of their points in the paint.

LOOKING AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Bethune-Cookman closed out its three-game home stand with a 53-40 loss to Norfolk State Monday night. Kailyn Williams barely missed out on a triple-double with nine points, 10 blocks and 17 rebounds. Her 10 blocks ranks second on the Wildcats all-time single-game block list and put her in a three-way tie for the best NCAA Division I single-game blocking performance this season. Kendra Cooper led the Wildcats (4-12, 1-3 MEAC) with 12 points. This was her 11th time scoring in double figures this season.

CONFERENCE HONORS
Jordan Swails was named the MEAC women's basketball Player of the Week after helping the Eagles go 1-1 last week. She earned her first career honor by averaging 18 points and eight rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. Swails has a knack for getting things done after intermission, scoring 22 of her 36 totals points during that span. She is averaging 9.5 points per game (second on the team) and 5.1 rebounds per contest (tied for second on the team). Swails also leads the Eagles in made 3-point field goals (10).

GRIFFIN WITH THE SET UP
Junior guard Amber Griffin is steadily moving her way up the ranks in Coppin State's record books. With 246 career assists, Griffin ranks eighth among the all-time assists leaders in school history, passing Ashle Craig '14, Delora Walker '96 and Thelma Lykes '89.

UP NEXT
The Eagles continue MEAC play at home on Monday at 5:30 p.m. against Flordia A&M.

2015 MEAC TOURNAMENT
The 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men's and women's basketball tournament is scheduled for March 9-14 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. Ticket books can be purchased at all 13 MEAC university ticket offices, the Norfolk Scope Arena, Ticketmaster outlets, the MEAC Administrative Office and online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling the MEAC at 757-951-2055 or Ticketmaster at (800)-745-3000. The annual MEAC Basketball Tournament moved to Norfolk after spending the previous four years in Winston-Salem, N.C. from 2009 through 2012.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Military Appreciation Night: The Coppin State University basketball teams will celebrate the Armed Services on Saturday, January 17, 2015. All active and retired service members will receive free admission to the Bethune Cookman-Coppin State basketball games by showing proper identification at the Physical Education Center box office. This is Coppin State's way of encouraging U.S. citizens to observe the afternoon in a symbol of unity, to honor the current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom. Armed Forces members will be recognized during the games.
Teacher Appreciation Night: The Coppin State University basketball teams will celebrate the many educators on Monday, January 19, 2015. All teachers will receive free admission to the Florida A&M-Coppin State basketball games by showing proper identification at the Physical Education Center box office