BERKELEY, Calif. – Genesis Lucas scored a game-high 19 points as the Coppin State University fell to 19
th-ranked Missouri, 73-50 on Friday evening at Haas Pavilion on the campus of the University of California-Berkeley. The Eagles will take on Manhattan University on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm Eastern in the consolation game of the Cal Classic.
Lucas made 7-of-20 shots from the floor and all five of her throws to lead all scorers but it was not enough to overcome the nationally-ranked Tigers. Coppin also got a season-high 15 points from freshman
Maraiyah Smith, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, as well as 12 points and eight rebounds from
Chance Graham.
Smith hit a three-pointer off an assist from
Oluwadamilola Oloyede just nine seconds in to give the Eagles the early lead but Missouri scored six-straight points to double-up Coppin, 6-3. Smith responded with another three, this time off a pass from Lucas, tying the score.
The Tigers then scored seven-straight points and never looked back taking a ten point lead after the first quarter and the Eagles got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Missouri outshot Coppin, 44% to 30%, and out-rebounded the Eagles, 45-25.
