BALTIMORE – Redshirt freshman
Genesis Lucas led three Coppin State women's basketball in double figures with 14 points during a 67-57 setback to Norfolk State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest at the Physical Education Complex Saturday afternoon.
It was the fifth time this season that Lucas led the Lady Eagles (5-19 overall, 4-0 MEAC) in scoring. It was also her 10th time scoring double figures for Coppin State. Nine of those instances have occurred since she entered the starting line-up on Jan. 19.
In her 10 starts this season, Lucas is averaging 13.3 points per contest, 4.9 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds. She is also making 45.6 percent of her shots over that span.
Juniors
Amber Griffin and
Janelle Lane added 12 points each for Coppin State, which finished with a season-high nine blocked shots. Lane, who scored in double figures for the 20th time in her CSU tenure, tied a career-high for the sixth time with a game-best three blocked shots.
Meanwhile, Griffin tied her career-high scoring total for the second straight game. It was the ninth time this season that Griffin has reached double digits in scoring. Her 10 points in the opening half helped Coppin State take a 34-30 lead. Griffin also led the Eagles with five assists and five rebounds.
Jordan Swails contributed nine points, a career-best six assists and five rebounds. She had 54.5 percent of Coppin State's steals against the Lady Spartans.
Things changed for Coppin State once it stretched its lead to 38-30 following a Lucas layup with 17 minutes, 26 remaining. Norfolk State used the foul line to get back into the game and eventually pull away from Coppin State in the second half.
Norfolk State (10-14, 9-4) made 21-of-25 foul shots in the second half. Rae Corbo (game-high 23 points) and Kayla Roberts (15 points) each made more foul shots in the second half (five) than Coppin State attempted as a team (four). Coppin State was whistled for 18 fouls in the second half compared to five for Norfolk State, which shot 7-for-25 in the second half from the field.
Coppin State returns to action Monday night when it visits Hampton beginning at 5:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting against the Lady Pirates since last season's MEAC title contest.
