NORFOLK, Va. – Genesis Lucas scored 17 of her career-high 29 points in the second quarter but Norfolk State used an 11-0 fourth quarter run to pull away from Coppin State, 71-57 on Wednesday night at Echols Hall. The Eagles fall to 1-12 on the year while the Spartans improve to 8-5 in both teams' Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener.
A senior from Brandywine, Md., Lucas sunk a career-high 11 field goals with three 3-pointers along with three rebounds and three steals. Lucas made 7-of-12 shots in her big second quarter with a pair of triples.
Lucas also cemented her legacy at Coppin by passing two players on the Eagles' all-time scoring list. Now ninth all-time for the Eagles in scoring with 1,090 points, Lucas passed both Jeanine Manley ('12) and Larissa Carter ('14). She also surpassed the 200 steals and 100 3-pointers milestone in the game.
Coppin State got out of the gate strong, but after a jumper by
Candice Beverly gave the Eagles a 5-3 lead, Norfolk went on a 10-0 run and took a 17-11 lead after the first quarter. The Navy & Gold narrowly outscored the Spartans in both the second and third periods with Lucas recording 25 of the team's 38 points and trailed by just three going into the final period.
Norfolk opened the fourth with a pair of free throws but then went on their prolonged run that lasted three-plus minutes to extend its advantage to 14 points which was the final margin of victory.
The Spartans used their superior size to outrebound Coppin, 49-30, and their 17 offensive rebounds led to 17 second-chance points. Norfolk recorded 34 points in the paint to the Eagles' 16 and its bench outscored Coppin's, 24-0.
Maraiyah Smith also reached double figures for Coppin with 11 points with a pair of three's while making 5-of-6 from the line. Beverly added eight points while
Chance Graham pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds along with seven points.
Three Spartans reached double figures in scoring, led by Kayla Roberts who finished with 18.
Coppin returns to action on Saturday, January 6 when its hosts MEAC rival Savannah State in a 2 pm tipoff.
