BALTIMORE – Grab some popcorn and get set for the third and final installment of the "Battle of Baltimore", which will take place on the road in the Norfolk Scope Arena.
As the 10th seed, Coppin State (6-21 overall) will open the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament with seventh-seeded Morgan State (11-18) Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. This will be the third meeting this season and second in 10 days between the cross-town rivals.
The two teams met twice during the regular season, with MSU getting a 62-53 win at Coppin State on Feb. 2 before heading home to enjoy a 73-55 victory Feb. 28.
"We were beaten by them twice, once not too long ago," Coppin State veteran head coach
Derek Brown said. "We're going to have to make some adjustments. These ladies are going to have to play harder. Overall, we have to play better."
Senior guard Tracey Carrington leads Morgan State in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game. She was named to the All-MEAC Second Team. The Lady Bears also have All-MEAC Rookie Team member Braennan Farrar. Farrar averages 14.2 points per game and leads the Bears with 76 assists and 64 steals.
Coppin State has the chance to do something it has never done before, beat the Lady Bears in the MEAC Tournament. Coppin State is 0-3 against MSU in the tournament but the Eagles are looking ahead with a clean slate and positive outlook.
"You have to play together," Brown said. "Everybody has to be in sync with one another. You definitely have to be feeling good and just ready to play. You have to be eager, think positively and be ready to go out there and work. You have to want to be out there in the limelight and want to show just how good you are to all the different teams. Most of the teams are there watching so you have to be very confident about what you're doing. Above all, you have to play as a unit and the chemistry has to be good."
Speaking of chemistry, the Eagles have been led by a different scorer in 22 of 27 games and does a great job of spreading the wealth with Coppin State finishing in double figures 68 times this season. As the team with the best three-point field goal percentage (31.8) in the MEAC, the Eagles have transitioned well into their new roles.
Stepping into new roles meant stepping up their offensive presence. Junior guard
Jordan Swails and junior forward
Janelle Lane have done just that as Coppin State's leading scorers, averaging 11.0 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. Senior forward
Bria Harris leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and junior guard
Amber Griffin tops the Eagles with 92 assists.
Coppin State has plenty of tournament experience under coach Brown, having won three of its four conference championships during his tenure. The Eagles have advanced to the semifinals in three of the past four years before losing to eventual champion Hampton.
"It's an advantage," Swails said. "We know what to expect when we get on that court. I was shown the way by my three seniors last year and now it's my turn to bring the confidence and strength that they instilled in me that's needed to win in the MEAC Tournament."
Although the Eagles have been on this road before, it will be the first time having to make the journey without its top three scorers from last year. As coach Brown looks at this year's squad, he's sees nothing but potential.
"Again, they were role players," Brown said. "They played important roles in some of those games. I think that's going to come back to them and I think it's going to be a positive for us. I expect us to play together and do all the little things that need to be done."
Tuesday's victor will advance to face second-seeded Savannah State (18-10) Wednesday, March 11 at 2:30 p.m. Coppin State dropped a 63-56 decision in overtime to Savannah State. The Eagles have never faced the Tigers in the MEAC Tournament.
The 2015 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips-off Monday, March 9, and will conclude on Saturday, March 14 with the men's and women's championship games. The women's game will begin at 4 p.m. and will be tape-delayed on ESPNU. It will air the following day, Sunday, March 15, at 11 a.m.
The men's final will begin at 1 p.m. and will broadcast live on ESPN2. The preliminary games will also be streamed live on www.ESPN3.com. Live statistics of all games will be available on the conferences' official website and the tournament's official website, www.MEAChoops.com.
