BALTIMORE – There is no feeling in the world like the start of a new women's basketball season. It's similar to a kid on Christmas morning or opening up a surprise package and finding the latest pair of crisp Air Jordan sneakers.
Coppin State is pumped to write a different story in 2015-16 after winning seven contests last season. The Lady Eagles believe they have all the pieces and then some to make this year memorable. Coppin State begins its season Friday on the road at Virginia Commonwealth University in a contest that tips-off at 11:00 a.m.
Coppin State head women's basketball coach
Derek Brown enters his 17th year at the helm with an experienced and talented team. The Lady Eagles return four starters and three of their four top returning scorers from last season's team that advanced to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament quarterfinals.
"We learned a lot, even though our record didn't show it," Brown said. "Throughout the year there was a learning process going on. We sort of hit a perfect storm as far as our schedule was concerned. Our schedule wasn't kind to us and we lost some games coming down the stretch that we should've won but I think in the end, beating (Morgan State in the MEAC Tournament) helped us a lot and helped our psyche for this year. They understand what it's going to take to get into the championship game. We'll see how much work they put in during the offseason to get themselves better and go for a championship."
Overall Coppin State has 10 players returning that from last season. Seven of those players averaged at least 10 minutes per game and started at least one game. They accounted for 84.7 percent of Coppin State's point production. Many of the returnees also played significant roles in leading the Lady Eagles to the 2013-14 MEAC Tournament championship contest.
Coppin State's top two returning scorers will be 5 foot, 11 inch senior forward
Jordan Swails and 6-0 senior forward
Janelle Lane. They averaged 11.2 and 10.0 points per game, respectively last season.
Genesis Lucas, a 5-7 sophomore guard, added 8.9 points per game while 5-3 senior guard
Amber Griffin scored at a 7.3 point per game clip for the Lady Eagles.
Swails enjoyed a breakout season as junior that ended with her being selected to the MEAC All-Tournament team. She also averaged 6.0 rebounds per contest, which was second on the team and 13th in the MEAC. Swails made a team-best 30 three-pointers and was second in the MEAC in three-point field goal percentage (38.5). Swails was second on the team and 10th in the MEAC in field goal percentage (45.6). She also led the Lady Eagles with 48 steals.
Lane led the Eagles and was ninth in the MEAC in field goal percentage (46.5). She also averaged 4.7 rebounds, which was third on the team. Lane was also 11th in the MEAC in blocked shots (23) and reached double figures in scoring a team-high 15 times. Lane and Swails combined to record five double-doubles during the season.
While Lane and Swails developed into a formidable frontcourt tandem, Lucas and Griffin evolved into a dynamic backcourt pair. Both players ranked among the MEAC top 10 in assists per game, combining for 53.1 percent of Coppin State helpers last season. Griffin led the Eagles in that category, dishing 3.3 per game, which was sixth in the conference. Meanwhile, Lucas was 10th in the MEAC in assists per game.
Griffin enters the season with 293 career assists. She is poised to become the third Coppin State women's player in program history to have at least 300 assists. Showcasing her versatility last season, Griffin posted her first career double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) in a regular season-ending victory over Delaware State.
Lucas earned a place on the MEAC All-Rookie team after a strong season. She really took off when she became a starter, averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals in the final 15 games of the season. She scored in double figures in 12 of those contests. Lucas also earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors after a 22-point performance against Delaware State.
Providing depth and experience are 6-0 senior guard
Tanaysa Henderson, 5-7 junior guard
Keena Samuels, 6-3 junior center
Omaah Tayong, 5-11 sophomore forward
Candice Beverly, 5-8 sophomore guard
D'Ajahnae Smith and 6-3 sophomore center
Oluwaseun Adeniji.
In averaging 4.3 points per game, Samuels scored in double figures four times, including a career-high 17 points against Wake Forest. Henderson, who averaged 3.6 points, scored a career best 13 points against West Virginia. Tayong tied her career-best by scoring 12 points at Wake Forest. She also grabbed 10 rebounds three times and led the Eagles with 25 blocks, which stood 10th in the conference.
In Coppin State's 70-65 win over Florida A&M, Beverly scored a career-high seven points, pulled down three rebounds and dished three assists to help the Lady Eagles storm back from a 10-point deficit in the final 10 minutes for a win to remember.
Coppin State welcomes newcomers
Vanessa Neal, a 5-7 sophomore transfer from Niagara, and 6-3 freshman
Alexis Taylor.
The Eagles schedule features 11 home games and contests against three schools that made the NCAA Tournament (Miami, Syracuse and Savannah State). In addition Coppin State visits West Virginia, a team that lost in the WNIT finals, for a third straight season. Coppin State's season opener will be at Virginia Commonwealth on Friday, November 13. The Eagles will play their first home game on Thursday, November 19 against UMBC.
"When you have seniors, it's sort of a different attitude and they know this is their last year," Brown said. "They know no one is above them. This is as high as you can go. They have a mature and a very confident attitude. We're looking for some good things to happen this year. You're looking at five seniors coming back who have all played significant minutes for us in the last couple of years. We have a senior-laden team with an all-rookie team starter returning. I like our chances to have a good year."
