ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Senior
Keena Samuels scored a game-high 23 points, red-shirt junior
Genesis Lucas had 21 points and freshman
Chance Graham notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in a 66-63 road win at South Carolina State University on Saturday, February 18th in the S-H-M Memorial Center.
Coppin State moves to a MEAC record of 7-6 while South Carolina State falls to 2-12 within the conference. The Eagles shot their second best field goal percentage of the season at 43% hitting 24-of-56 attempts.
Samuels made nine field goals, one three-pointer and 4-of-6 free-throws leading the Eagles. She added six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Lucas drained a career-high five three-pointers reaching her sixth 20+ point performance of the season. She dished out six assists, had four rebounds and two steals. Graham recorded her third double-double of the season scoring 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and had a game-high 12 rebounds. She converted on a team-high 5-of-7 free-throws and blocked a pair of shots.
In the first half Samuels and Lucas combined to score 24 of 38 total points by the Eagles. South Carolina State led for the majority of the first period until Lucas' three-pointer at the 3:07 mark trimmed the deficit to one (13-12) and then Graham's free-throw tied it all up. Junior
Candice Beverly gave the Eagles their first lead of the game (15-13) with 2:18 left in the quarter. From that moment on CSU held onto the lead and carried a 38-28 lead into halftime.
The duo of Samuels and Lucas continued to pace the Eagles scoring in the second half registering ten points apiece. The Bulldogs managed to fight their way back into the game and went ahead 43-42 at the 5:52 mark of the third quarter. Over the next four minutes of action SCSU remained in the lead until Lucas drained another long range shot tying the game at 49-49 with 47-seconds left in the period. Samuels tied the game (51-51) shortly after and then free-throws by Graham and Samuels gave the Eagles a three-point cushion (54-51) heading into the fourth period.
Both teams battled to the end in the second meeting of the season between the Eagles and Bulldogs. Samuels added five fourth quarter points and Graham scored four as Coppin State escaped with a 66-63 victory. South Carolina State trailed by as many as six points in the final period. Graham scored two field goals and Lucas made both of her free-throws anchoring the Eagles win.
South Carolina State was led by Bryeasha Blair's 20 points and seven rebounds. Brittany Drumgoole added 12 points from off of the bench and Alexis Scott finished with nine points.
Coppin State will play their third to last regular season game of the season on Monday, February 20th at Savannah State University at 5:30 p.m.
