BALTIMORE – Coppin State's
Mossi Staples erupted for 18 points in the second half to lead the Eagles to a 67-55 victory over Delaware State on Monday night at PEC Arena. With the victory, Coppin now stands at 15-11 overall with a 9-4 mark in the MEAC.
A redshirt sophomore from Fort Washington, Md., Staples finished with 20 points, seven assists and six steals. Staples' seven assists and six steals both matched career-highs and it was her fourth game of the season with at least 20 points.
Aliyah Lawson was also in double figures, recording 13 points to go with five rebounds and four assists while
Jewel Watkins notched her first career double-double with ten points and ten rebounds to go with three assists and a pair of steals.
Jalynda Salley contributed with eight points and seven rebounds while forwards
Colleen Bucknor and
Khya Jenkins combined for 11 points and nine rebounds inside.
Hope Evans also dished out four assists as the Eagles had 20 assists on 26 made baskets.
Staples took over the game in the third quarter as she led a furious comeback by the Eagles. Coppin went on a 10-0 run to open the second half to tie the score, and after trading buckets, Staples converted on a layup to give CSU a 33-31 advantage at the 5:45 mark. Staples then stole the inbounds pass and went straight up for another layup to extend the Eagles lead.
Coppin kept up the momentum following the media timeout and opened a 42-35 lead, but DSU fought back to within two before Staples fed Jenkins for an easy layup just before the end of the period. In the third quarter alone, Staples put up eight points on 4-of-5 shooting along with five assists and four steals.
Coppin doubled up the Hornets in the third quarter, 28-14, shooting 61.1% from the floor and outscored DSU, 20-12 in the fourth while hitting 53.3% of its shots. Staples continued to pour it on to a tune of ten points in the final quarter which included scoring eight points during a 10-0 run by CSU.
Coppin struggled from the floor during the first half, making just 7-of-32 (21.9%) shots while Delaware State hit over 41 percent of its shots. The Hornets opened an early 14-4 lead with a 9-0 run before Lawson hit a floater with 1:26 left in the period.
After trading buckets to end the quarter, the Hornets led 16-8 and the visitors started the second period with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 15 points. The Eagles pulled within double digits late in the half with six-straight points which included a three from
Cortney Gardner, and Lawson found the range from deep with a triple just before the half.
The Eagles close the regular season when they welcome archrival Morgan State to PEC Arena on Thursday, March 3 in a 5:30 pm tipoff. Fans can watch the action live on NXT LVL or tune in to WNST 1570AM.
