HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jaia Alexander and
Aliyah Lawson helped lead the way for the Coppin State women's basketball team in a huge 77-69 victory over Marshall inside the Cam Henderson Center Saturday afternoon.
Coppin with a two-game win streak move to 4-3 on the season, while The Herd fall to 3-3. With this victory the Eagles are one game behind in the all-time series.
Alexander led all players with 24 points and seven rebounds, as she shot 58% from the field (10-17) and shot 66.7% from beyond the arch (2-of-3). Lawson dished in 22 points shooting, 7-10 from the free-throw line, and made three three-pointers.
Mossi Staples also scored in double digits with 14 points and team high five assists.
Colleen Bucknor tallied double figures in rebounds leading the team with 10 and scored six points. Lawson and Staples grabbed six boards each.
Jalynda Salley brought a strong presence in the paint with a game high of three blocks.
Jewel Watkins also contributed with seven points and four rebounds. As a team, Coppin went 49 percent from the field, and 36 percent from beyond the arch. They outnumbered Marshall all around defensively, with 33 defensive rebounds, 5 team blocks and four team steals.
The Eagles had a strong first half. Alexander scored the first four points to get the Eagles going early. Marshall went on a 5-0 run to lead 12-7 with 4:48 remaining in the first. Their physicality fueled their offensive momentum, as they managed to get downhill and attack the lanes, which forced eight fouls for Marshall, while Coppin doubled Marshall's attempts at the line. Lawson cumulated half of the Eagles trips to the free-throw line in the first half as she went 4-6. Alexander and Lawson reached double digits in the first half alone. After exchanging leads between Coppin and Marshall, the Eagles trailed by five to close off the half.
Marshall went on a 7-0 scoring run to start the second half, until Staples cut the lead back into single digits with four straight points in two possessions. By the end of the third quarter, the Eagles trailed by seven (60-53). Alexander came in with a vengeance to start the fourth quarter, as she scored 10 straight points for Coppin, to cut Marshall's lead to three. Lawson hit a big three to tie the game at 66-66 with five minutes left of play. Coppin was not tied for long, as they pulled away on an 8-0 run, initiated by back-to-back jumpers from Alexander, followed by a huge three by Staples and a free-throw by Watkins. The Eagles run placed them at a 74-68 advantage with 1:17 left to go. An offensive foul from Savannah Wheeler would make her foul out and help the Eagles put the nail in the coffin in Jewel city. The Eagles capitalized and sealed the upset with a final score of 77-69.
The Eagles will face Pittsburgh on Tuesday, December 7 inside the Petersen Events Center. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
