KENT, Ohio – A career-high 27 points from
Mossi Staples was not enough as the Coppin State women's basketball team dropped its second-straight overtime game, a 72-69 loss at Kent State on Saturday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. The Eagles finish the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 3-12 record while the Golden Flashes improve to 8-3.
Inside the Numbers
- Staples hit 9-of-20 field goals to match a career-high while hitting four 3-pointers, also matching a career best, and 5-of-6 from the line. Staples added five rebounds and a pair of steals.
- Jewel Watkins also finished in double figures, tallying 12 points and matching Jalynda Salley with seven rebounds. Salley also had seven points, as did Hope Evans who continued her solid play all-around with four rebounds and a game-high six assists.
- Alexandria Hamilton chipped in with six points while Colleen Bucknor, Lucia Reos, Khya Jenkins and Cortney Gardner also got on the board for the Eagles.
- Coppin narrowly outshot Kent State, 38.5% to 37.7% while Golden Flashes made two more threes and 15-of-22 from the line compared to 10-of-16 for CSU.
- This was the third overtime game for the Eagles this season (William & Mary & Akron).
- Five Kent State players finished in double figures, led by Lindsey Thall with 15 points.
How it Happened
- Coppin took an early 6-2 lead on three-straight baskets from Evans, Staples and Salley. After a Kent State field goal, Staples hit back-to-back threes, giving Coppin a 12-4 lead with 6:02 left in the first.
- The Eagles maintained the lead for the rest of the period, but Kent State was able to cut the deficit to 15-13 with a jumper at the buzzer.
- Staples started the second period with a midrange jumper, but KSU got hot and regained the lead before extending its advantage to 36-28 at the half with a 5-0 run.
- CSU outscored Kent State, 22-21 in a high-scoring third period, which included a 19-7 run to retake the lead on a three by Reos with 3:54 remaining.
- Kent State closed the quarter on a 9-1 run and went into the final quarter leading, 57-50.
- Hamilton hit an inside jumper to open the fourth, followed by a pair of free throws by Evans and a stepback three by Watkins, tying the score at 57-57 with 5:51 left.
- Staples gave CSU a brief lead with a pair of free throws, but Kent State answered with a three to regain the advantage once again.
- A baseline jumper from Jenkins put CSU on top, 61-60 with 3:20 to go and the only point the rest of regulation came on a KSU free throw with 2:15 left in regulation.
- KSU got out first in the extra period, opening a 68-64 lead before a pair of free throws from Staples and another stepback three from Watkins gave Coppin the 69-68 lead with just under two minutes left.
- Coppin remained ahead until Kent State hit a three with 40 ticks left and they added a free throw 26 seconds later while Coppin did not score for the final 1:58.
Up Next: Coppin opens MEAC play on Saturday, January 7 when it hosts South Carolina State in a 2 pm tipoff at PEC Arena.
