BALTIMORE – There was plenty of love in the air this Valentine's Day as Coppin State's women's basketball team tasted sweet redemption with a 75-61 victory over Howard University at the Physical Education Complex in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match-up Saturday afternoon.
"It was part of them being more mature, disciplined about what they're doing and being confident," veteran head coach
Derek Brown said. "I think that's exactly what they did today. It's been tough. It's taken awhile but I think they've gotten to the point where they're pretty confident in themselves and each other."
The Eagles (4-18 overall, 3-8 MEAC) exude confidence with three players putting up double digits that gave Brown his 250th career win.
"The game today is bigger than 250. Those things take care of themselves. As long as we keep winning then I'm fine. We just come to work every day."
Junior guard
Jordan Swails had a career night with 24 points and 13 rebounds, her second double-double of the season. Swails was perfect from beyond the arc and shot 60 percent from the floor (9-for-15).
"We just wanted this win," Swails said. "We knew we were supposed to win those games we've lost and today we weren't having it. We all just came together and said let's get it done."
Coppin State got it done alright with junior
Janelle Lane also recording her second double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 11 boards. Lane made her time at the foul line count, making 7-of-9 attempts.
Redshirt freshman
Genesis Lucas posted a career-best 15 points. Lucas has earned double figures in seven of the last eight games.
Things were looking bleak midway through the first half, with the Eagles down by 15. Slowly but surely, Coppin State chipped away at Howard's lead to head into the locker room down 40-35. The Eagles came out swinging and managed to tie the game at 56 with 11 minutes, 46 seconds remaining. That was the last time Howard would be even with the Eagles, who ended up going on a 12-0 run and holding the Bison scoreless for over seven minutes.
Howard was led by Imani Bailey, who tallied 19 points. Sydni Johnson and Victoria Gonzales added 18 and 17 points, respectively.
"When we were at Howard last time, we made a lot of mistakes," Lane said. "Today's game was payback and we had to execute. We had to play our game and work as a team. We ran at our pace. We slowed things down, had good passes and made our shots. We worked as a team and that was the biggest thing for us."
The Eagles clicked on offense and defense, shooting 82.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free-throw line. They also scored 31 points off of Howard's 20 turnovers and held the Bison to 21 second half points.
Coppin State's defensive push was led by junior
Amber Griffin, who showed the true meaning of lockdown defense.
"I feel like since I'm not really contributing on offense I always have to do something else," Griffin said. "I know I'm a leader out there on the floor. If I can contribute on defense and stop my man then I know everybody else is feeding off of me and my energy."
There wasn't a lack of energy as Coppin State celebrated its homecoming, bringing plenty of alumni to the PEC Arena. Among the spectators was the 1990-91 Coppin State women's basketball team. The first MEAC Championship squad in school history was inducted into Coppin State's Hall of Fame Friday night.
The close-knit legends provided ample encouragement from their courtside seats.
"They were talking to me the whole time on offense and defense," Swails said. "I was feeding off their energy the entire time."
Swails has a close relationship with members of the historic team thanks to her mother, associate head coach
Billie Wilson.
"I definitely know Talia Sutton and a couple others," Swails said. "The alumni I know talk to me a lot because they were playing when I would come with my mom to play in the gym while they were practicing or I was on trips with them."
Speaking of trips, Coppin State is heading to Delaware State Monday. The MEAC contest is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
"One of our mantras right now is hard and smart," Brown said. "That was something that we did a few years ago and we always said hard and smart when we were all together. We're getting smarter at what we're doing and playing harder every game. If we keep doing that then I like our chances."
