WASHINGTON, D.C. – Coppin State suffered their second MEAC defeat of the season falling to Howard, 66-58 in Burr Gym on Monday, January 16
th. The Eagles fall to 3-14 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
Freshman
Chance Graham finished with a career-high 14 points, 16 rebounds and four steals. She went 6-for-11 from the floor and tallied seven offensive rebounds with nine defensive rebounds. Senior
Keena Samuels finished with a team-high 19 points and three steals. She made seven total shots from the floor including a pair of three-pointers. Red-shirt junior
Genesis Lucas was the Eagles third double figure scorer finishing with 12 points and a game-high seven assists. Graduate
Tiara Goode tied a season-high with ten rebounds and scored five points.
Early on, Samuels scored eight first quarter points as Coppin State carried a 15-7 advantage. The Eagles hit two three-pointers and played great defensively holding the Bison offense to 14 percent shooting from the field (2-14). In the second quarter the Bison were able to cut down the deficit and bring the contest to within three by the half (25-22). Graham dominated the interior recording 12 first half rebounds while scoring eight points. Samuels was the other top scorer for the Eagles with all eight points. Coppin State outrebounded Howard 26-19.
The Bison came storming back to tie the contest at 39-39 with two minutes to go in the third quarter. They went to the free-throw line for 11 attempts sinking eight while the Eagles settled for two attempts. Samuels paced the quarter scoring with eight and Graham contributed four points. Junior
Candice Beverly put the Eagles back in the lead (44-43) with 18-seconds left in the period on a made free-throw. The Bison responded and tied it up at 44 heading into the fourth quarter.
Samuels extended the Coppin State advantage to five (55-50) after a pair from the charity stripe with 5:49 left to play. That was the Eagles only points in the final four minutes as Howard rallied off a 14-0 run to close out the game. The Bison defense held the Eagles scoreless until 17 seconds was left when Lucas made a pair of free-throws. Howard outscored the Eagles 22-14 in the fourth period and came from behind to win 66-58.
Howard finished with four in double figures led by Erin Blaine's double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Eagles are back in action on Monday, January 23 at home against Norfolk State at 5:30 p.m.
