BALTIMORE, Md. – Graduate
Vanessa Neal had a career-night scoring 21 points leading Coppin State to a 77-64 MEAC home victory over Delaware State on Monday, February 13
th inside the Physical Education Complex. Coppin State recorded a team-season high scoring total of 77 against the Hornets. The Eagles also had 28 made field goals shooting 47-percent from the field and 55-percent from three-point territory also marking season-best.
Vanessa Neal notched a new career-high point total finishing with 21. She went 9-for-13 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range in 37 minutes played. Red-shirt junior
Genesis Lucas scored 19 points, dished out five assists and led the defense with three steals. Lucas converted on 7-of-8 free-throws and made the other two three-pointers for CSU.
Freshman
Chance Graham had 12 points with a season-high 5-of-7 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior
Keena Samuels added 11 points with a career-high seven assists and freshman
Mia Crooms scored six points leading the bench. Junior
Candice Beverly tied a career-high with seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
The duo of Lucas and Neal combined to score the first ten points for Coppin State helping the Eagles get off to a good start. Neal made two three-pointers in the quarter and Lucas had one with Coppin State shooting 50-percent from the field (7-14) and 60-percent from three-point range (3-5). Lucas scored nine first quarter points and Neal chipped in with eight as the Eagles carried a 19-15 advantage into the second period.
Coppin State kept the momentum going opening up a nine point advantage in the second quarter. Lucas scored five points along with junior
Candice Beverly. Beverly went to the charity stripe and converted on 3-of-4 free-throws while Lucas made the Eagles only three-pointer of the period and made both of her attempts from the free-throw line. The Hornets improved their shooting from the field but were unable to take the lead trailing CSU 37-29 at the half.
The Eagles extended their lead to double-digits at the beginning of the half. Samuels' jumper made the game 39-29 on the first possession of the quarter and then her layup at the 7:05 mark gave CSU a 45-33 advantage. Neal made three field goals in the period scoring seven points and Beverly recorded five rebounds. Lucas added four assists to pace the Eagles that led 62-53 at the end of the quarter.
Delaware State failed to trim the deficit and overtake Coppin State in the final period.
Chance Graham carried the offensive load with eight points shooting 4-for-5 from the field. She also grabbed five rebounds and secured the Eagles sixth MEAC victory of the season, 77-64.
Delaware State's NaJai Pollard finished with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds. Mikah Aldridge chipped in 15 points.
The Eagles begin a three game road swing with four games left in the regular season on Saturday, February 18
th at South Carolina State. The second meeting of the season will tip off at 2 p.m. in Orangeburg, SC.
