DURHAM, N.C. - Aliyah Lawson scored a game-high 14 points to lead the Coppin State women's basketball team to a 66-43 victory over North Carolina Central on Wednesday night in the McDougald-McLendon Arena. With the victory, Coppin is now 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 season and its 8-7 mark is their best start since the 2006-07 campaign.
Lawson, who hit three 3-pointers and dished out four assists, led a well-balanced Coppin attack that featured four players in double figures. Jaia Alexander was the second leading scorer with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Jalynda Salley tallied double digits in rebounds with 11, along with eight points. Jewel Watkins had a big night with 10 points, eight rebounds, and went 2-of-3 from beyond the arch. Mossi Staples finished the game with 11 points, four assists and led all players with three steals. Colleen Bucknor contributed six points, six rebounds and shot 3-of-3 from the field.
Coppin State dominated the glass with a season high 59 rebounds compared to Central's 40. CSU recorded 19 offensive rebounds, which turned into 20 second-chance points.
Coppin led the majority of the first half and outnumbered NC Central on the glass 31-21. CSU held a four-point lead going into the second half.
Staples set the tone in the third quarter and sparked a 9-0 Coppin run to extend CSU's lead to 40-30 with 3:44 left in the third quarter. The teams played virtually even for the remainder of the period before Coppin pulled away in the final ten minutes.
N.C. Central had no solutions for Coppin in the fourth, as they were outscored 22-7. Bucknor scored back-to-back field goals, followed by a pair of threes from Lawson to put Coppin on 10-0 run which gave them a 54-38 lead with just under six minutes left to play. Following a Central bucket, CSU went on another 7-0 run which included a three by Watkins to seal the win.
Coppin will be back in action against Norfolk on Saturday, January 22 at the Echols Hall Arena. Tip-off will begin at 4pm.
