TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Eagles won their second consecutive MEAC contest with a 70-62 road victory over Florida A&M on Saturday, January 7
th in the Al Lawson Center.
Red-shirt junior
Genesis Lucas set a new career-high with 27 points against the Rattlers. Lucas made ten shots from the field, four free-throws and three three-pointers. She also dished out a game-high five assists and led the defense with four steals. Senior
Keena Samuels finished with 16 points and graduate
Tiara Goode added 14 points and junior
Candice Beverly had seven points.
Lucas came out scoring on the Rattlers posting 11 first quarter points. Coppin State shot 50% from the field in the opening quarter hitting 7-of-14 attempts. Lucas also made a pair of three-pointers and
Keena Samuels had six early points anchoring the Eagles to a 19-17 advantage going into the second quarter.
Coppin State kept the offensive attack going in the second quarter outscoring the Rattlers, 21-12. Defensively, the Eagles forced 12 first half turnovers that turned into 12 points for their offense. Lucas finished the half with 18 total points knocking down seven shots from the field including three three-pointers. She also recorded three steals and had two assists. Samuels contributed nine first half points and
Tiara Goode had six points and
Candice Beverly added five points. The Eagles led at halftime for the second time this season leading 40-29 over the Rattlers.
Florida A&M came roaring back from a double-digit deficit with a long scoring run to begin the third period. The Eagles struggled from the field shooting 3-for-12 while the Rattlers went 6-for-17 and 2-for-6 from down town. Lucas ended the drought with a pair of free-throws and then Samuels' fast break layup gave the Eagles back the lead (46-45) with just over two minutes to go in the third. At the end of three quarters of play, Lucas tallied 22 points and Samuels had 13 points as the Eagles led 50-45.
The fourth quarter remained tight between the two squads in their second MEAC contest of the season. Goode's three-pointer with 2:30 left to go gave the Eagles a six point lead (62-56). She hit another long range shot extending the Eagles advantage to eight (67-59) with 1:05 left in regulation. Coppin State closed out the game holding the Rattlers to only three points in the final minute and won 70-62.
The Eagles remain in the state of Florida with a road trip to Daytona Beach facing Bethune-Cookman on Monday, January 9
th at 5: 30 p.m. Coppin State leads the all-time series with Bethune-Cookman 30-26 but lost their last two games against the Wildcats in the series. Coppin State last won at Bethune-Cookman on March 1, 2012 (58-55).
