NORFOLK, Va. – Chance Graham poured in 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Coppin State women's basketball team picked up its third-straight win in a 57-55 MEAC victory at Norfolk State on Monday night at Echols Hall. The Eagles are now 3-22 on the year and 3-10 in conference play while giving the Spartans just their second MEAC loss of the year.
Inside the Numbers
- Chance Graham made 9-of-15 shots from the field, including one 3-pointer, and 3-of-5 from the line to finish with 22 points. Her 14 rebounds were also a game-high as she notched her tenth double-double of the season.
- Aliyah Lawson was also in double figures with 16 points with three 3-pointers while dishing out five assists.
- Oluwadamilola Oloyede pitched in with eight points and five rebounds while Alexandria Hamilton added six points and three steals.
- Chanette Hicks finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six steals to lead Norfolk State.
- Coppin State outshot Norfolk State, 44.9% to 38.2%.
- This is the first three-game win streak for the Eagles since the 2017-18 season and the second-straight time that they defeated the Spartans at Echols Hall.
- CSU is 14-1 against Norfolk State in the last 15 meetings outside of Baltimore.
How it Happened
- Facing an early, 6-2 deficit, Coppin State got five-straight points from Aliyah Lawson to go on top, 7-6 at the 3:43 mark of the opening quarter.
- The teams then traded a pair of baskets apiece before a layup by Chance Graham hit a layup with just under a minute left in the period.
- Norfolk State converted on a layup just before the buzzer as Coppin led, 13-12 after the first.
- Coppin maintained a small lead midway through the second, but after a free throw by the Spartans, the Eagles went on a 7-0 run capped off by a three from Marley Grenway, extending their advantage to 26-15 with 4:04 left in the half.
- A jumper by Graham answered a NSU free throw to push the lead to 28-16, but the hosts closed the half with six-straight points to make it a 28-22 CSU lead at halftime.
- Back-to-back 3-pointers by Lawson and Graham to open the third started a 13-1 run for the Eagles who led 41-23 with 6:10 to go in the third.
- Coppin then went cold the remainder of the quarter as Norfolk closed the stanza on a 16-2 run, cutting the deficit to 43-39 going into the final ten minutes.
- Despite its lead getting to as little as a single point on three occasions, Coppin never relinquished its lead. With 1:12 remaining, NSU hit a pair of free throws to make it a 53-52 score before Lawson hit a free throws seconds later to make it a 54-52 advantage.
- The Eagles forced a turnover after a Spartans timeout and Lawson made them pay with two more free throws with 23 ticks remaining, extending the lead to 56-52.
- Norfolk missed on a 3-point attempt after another timeout and Graham made another 1-of-2 free throws with 17 seconds to go, sealing the win.
- The Spartans hit a 3-pointer just before the final buzzer, but it was too little, too late for the hosts.
Up Next: Coppin returns home to host Delaware State on Saturday, February 22 in a 2 pm tipoff. Seniors
Chance Graham and
Oluwadamilola Oloyede will be playing in their final home games at PEC Arena and will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
