BALTMORE, Md. – Sophomore
Chance Graham scored 21 points and pulled down 20 rebounds to lead the Coppin State women's basketball team to a 69-63 MEAC victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night at PEC Arena. Winners of three-straight, the Eagles improve to 6-14 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC while the Hawks fall to 6-15 with a 3-6 mark in conference play.
Graham made 6-of-9 shots from the floor and 9-of-12 from the line to match her career-high and her 20 rebounds were also a career-high. In the second half, the sophomore from Upper Marlboro tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds with nine points coming in the final five minutes.
Graham's 20 rebounds was the 13
th time an Eagles player notched at least 20 rebounds and the first since
Omaah Tayong pulled down 23 against Savannah State on January 11, 2014.
Four Coppin players finished in double digits as
Genesis Lucas added 17 points along with five rebounds and four assists.
Maraiyah Smith sunk 7-of-10 from the line for 13 points and
Alexis Taylor had a great night with 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, all of which were career-highs.
After a quarter, the Eagles led 18-12 and extended the lead to 32-23 at the half. UMES used a big third quarter and pulled within three at 40-37 with 1:50 remaining in the period.
Coppin was able to recoup from the Hawks' run with a pair of free throws by
Candice Beverly and a layup by Lucas before a UMES three just before the buzzer and took a 44-40 lead into the fourth.
An 8-1 run sparked by Graham to start the fourth extended the Eagles' advantage to double digits as UMES got no closer than six points the rest of the way. Coppin held off several min-runs by the Hawks but made 15-of-19 free throws in the final period to seal the win.
The Eagles outshot UMES, 36.4% to 29.5% and made 26-of-35 shots from the line. The Hawks outrebounded Coppin, 51-47 and turned 28 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points to keep it close.
UMES had four players in double figures, led by
Ciani Byrom with 14 points.
Bairesha Gill-Miles added 11 points to go with 15 rebounds.
Up next for the Eagles is a road trip at Hampton on Wednesday, January 31 in a 5:30 pm MEAC tipoff.
