BALTIMORE, Md. – Chance Graham had 15 points and a career-high 25 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season, but Coppin State fell 76-70 in the MEAC opener for both squads. Graham's 25 rebounds were the highest single-game total in the NCAA so far this season and the second-best individual mark in Coppin State women's basketball history, coming up three shy of the record (28) held by
Yvette Larkins in 1989.
The Basics
- Final Score: Coppin State 70, Savannah State 76
- Records: Coppin State 0-13 (0-1 MEAC) / Savannah State 3-7 (1-0 MEAC)
- Location: Baltimore, MD – Physical Education Complex Arena
- Series History: Coppin State Leads 5 – 4
How It Happened
First Quarter
- Six points from Jacquece Alston and four from Jalea Gray staked the Tigers a 12-4 lead halfway through the first.
- A triple by Chance Graham swung the pendulum to Coppin's side for the first time as a 12-3 rally put CSU in front 16-15.
- Other than a three-pointer by Savannah's Ta'Quasia Lampkin, the shooters for both teams went silent over the final two minutes, 18-16 Savannah.
Second Quarter
- The first three minutes of the quarter were a stalemate, as both sides drew even with 7 points apiece, 25-23 SSU.
- A long-range bomb from Brooke Fields put the Eagles back in front, 31-28 with 3:06 remaining in the half.
- An 8-4 surge from SSU stunted the Coppin momentum going into the break as the Tigers took the upper-hand into the locker rooms, 36-35 SSU.
Third Quarter
- A pair of free throws by Graham knotted the score at 40-40 at the 7:02 mark.
- An 8-1 run by Savannah State gave the Tigers some breathing room coming out of the media timeout, 48-41 Savannah.
- Both sides would jockey for position over the final four minutes and change as both sides put 11 on the board to give the Tigers at 59-52 edge going into the finale.
Fourth Quarter
- After SSU took a 10-point advantage (64-54) both defenses stifled the offenses, as the Eagles and Tigers remained scoreless from the 7:55 to 5:47 mark.
- A 16-6 explosion from the Lady Eagles was capped off by a three-pointer from E'Mya Price to tie the contest at 70 with only 1:50 left in regulation.
- Unfortunately for the home team, that would be the last points accumulated as Savannah State ended the night on a 6-0 surge to close out a 76-70 conference opening victory.
Inside the Numbers
- Chance Graham continued her climb up the CSU career rebounding leader board, surpassing Lisa Briggs (695) and Whitney Cunningham (702) for seventh-place all-time with 719. She sits four shy of sixth (723) and 11 short of fifth (728) behind Leisel Harry and Bridgid Mitchell, respectively.
- Graham exceeded the 20-rebound plateau for the second time this year and now averages 12.5 rebounds per contest.
- Brooke Fields rewrote the Coppin record book as well, becoming the first player in program history to make at least 10 free throws in a game without missing (10-for-10).
- Fields led the squad in scoring (19), assists (5) and steals (3) while notching her seventh consecutive game with double-digit points.
- Maraiyah Smith tallied her second straight double-figure point output, placing third on the Lady Eagles with 12 points.
- Adrienne Darden scored her first career point for the Eagles, draining a free throw to put her on the board.
- Savannah State had five players break the 10-point threshold with Ta'Quasia Lampkin leading the way with 15.
- Alexus Bryant was the defensive catalyst for the Tigers, swatting four blocks and swiping two steals.
Who's Next?
- The Lady Eagles travel to Dover, Delaware to face the Delaware State Hornets on Monday night. The women's game is set for tip-off at 5:30 p.m. with the men's game following the conclusion of the contest.
