BALTIMORE- Coppin State women's basketball team is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2009 after defeating William & Mary 73-56 Thursday night inside the PEC Arena.
Jaia Alexander led all players with a game-high score of 19 points and eight rebounds.
Jalynda Salley tallied 13 points and four rebounds, while freshman
Colleen Bucknor recorded nine points and seven rebounds.
Alexandria Hamilton,
Aliyah Lawson and
Nailah Delinois scored eight points each.
William & Mary started the game on a 10-2 run before Alexander scored the first basket for the Eagles. A three by Bucknor cut into the Tribe lead at the 3:59 mark. Then back-to-back free throws by Salley tied the game at 10. A three from freshman
Mossi Staples and a layup by Alexander gave the Eagles the 15-10 lead going into the second quarter.
Jaia Alexander kept the momentum going hitting another three to help the Eagles go up by seven. The Eagles kept the Tribe at ten before the six-minute media timeout in the second quarter and led by 11. The Tribe cut into the lead midway through the quarter, but the Eagles went into the half leading by five, 29-24.
The hot shooting continued for the Eagles, as
Alexandria Hamilton,
Nailah Delinois,
Aliyah Lawson and
Jaia Alexander hit threes to help Coppin finish the quarter leading by 17.
The Eagles never looked back after reaching the highest point difference of the night with 20 in the fourth quarter.
Quotable Head Coach Laura Harper
""I'm just so grateful to be in this position," said Harper. "These players have bought into our story and is writing into our story and believing in each other; we have veteran leadership in
Aliyah Lawson and
Jaia Alexander, and the rest of the team is buying into our roles."
"I have been challenging them, and they have been stepping up to the plate. This feels amazing, it is the best win I ever had as a head coach, and I am just so grateful."
"I just believe in my team. Basketball is not won or lost in the first quarter, I let them know all the time; basketball is a game of runs, a game of reaction, and responses. I let them know each time that eventually the ball is going to fall if you keep defending and believing in what we do."
Up Next
The Eagles will be back in action at Rhode Island. Tip off will start at 12pm.
