Women's Basketball | 2/1/2015 1:39:00 PM
BALTIMORE – There was nothing
Genesis Lucas could do.
Last February, all the current Coppin State redshirt freshman guard could do was watch from the bleachers in frustration as Morgan State rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat Coppin State, 66-61.
Luckily, Lucas won't have to worry about spectating on Monday afternoon when the Lady Eagles (3-15 overall, 2-5 MEAC) host the Lady Bears (6-12, 3-3) at 4 p.m. in one of the most anticipated games on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and HBCU basketball calendars. The game begins at 4:00 because the men's game between Coppin State and Morgan State will be televised live on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m.
Participating in her first Morgan-Coppin game, Lucas will have an opportunity to make a difference.
"It's a big rivalry," Lucas said. "It feels good to get to play this year. It's going to be a big game with a lot of people there. We have to go out there and play hard."
The rivalry between the two teams extends back to 1986 and they have met every year since. From 2000 through 2007, Coppin State won 14 consecutive games against Morgan State under the guidance of veteran head coach
Derek Brown.
Lucas established herself as a role player, coming off the bench for the Eagles and adding a few bonus points early in the season. Although Brown knew she had it in her, Lucas had to find the motivation within herself.
"I got hungrier," Lucas admitted. "I wanted to put in work and get on the floor. It's tough to watch the game from the bench. I was working hard but not hard enough to be out there for 40 minutes."
Her fight didn't go unnoticed. Providing a boost off the bench, Lucas sank the eventual game-winning free-throws in a 58-56 victory over Norfolk State on Jan. 5. She finished with 12 points and four steals in the win over the Lady Spartans.
Two weeks later, Lucas made her first career start on Jan. 19 against Florida A&M.
Lucas has been making significant contributions since joining the starting lineup for Coppin State. Through four games, she is averaging 11.7 points and 5.5 assists. She currently has a four-game double digit scoring streak, including a career-best 13 points and eight assists against North Carolina A&T.
"Genesis is coming into being the player that we recruited," Brown said. "She's finally acclimated to the college game now and is showing signs of pure point guard leadership and intelligence. She's running the show offensively. Genesis has really stepped up her game and has done a fine job for us the last few games."
The Brandywine native's success can be attributed to hard work but she thrives off the passion she has for the game, which she thanks her family for.
"I've been playing basketball since I was five," Lucas said with a smile. "My dad got me started but my older brother played basketball and I wanted to do everything he did. He played football so I played football. He played baseball so I signed up for tee ball. When he started playing basketball so did I and I just fell in love with it."
Lucas has come a long way from her days of following behind her brother and hopes to continue her positive production for Coppin State.
