BALTIMORE - With 15 points from
Jewel Watkins, and a tie score late in the fourth quarter, Coppin State's women's basketball team came up short to Norfolk State, 49-43 on Saturday at PEC Arena. The Eagles are now 1-2 in the MEAC while the Spartans remain undefeated in conference play at 4-0.
Watkins led all players with 15 points in a near double-double with nine rebounds.
Mossi Staples finished in double digits with ten points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Cortney Gardner posted six points with a pair of field goals.
Colleen Bucknor was the team's second leading rebounder with eight boards and a team-high three steals.
Jalynda Salley and
Nadjy Amira led all players with three blocks a piece. Amira grabbed five rebounds while Salley pulled down four rebounds and snatched two steals.
Hope Evans matched a team-high with two assists.
In tying Norfolk throughout the majority of the first quarter, Staples hit a three to bring out a mid-quarter lead. The Eagles outnumbered Norfolk in rebounds (10-2) to close out the quarter. Coppin and Norfolk tied the second quarter with nine points. The Eagles closed the half on a 4-0 run with a layup from Amira and a pair of free-throws from Watkins.
In the third quarter, Coppin went on a 7-0 run with a three from Watkins, and free-throws from Evans and Amira. Eleven of the Eagles 16 points in the third quarter was generated off free throws. Coppin trailed by three going into the fourth quarter (35-32). Watkins hit a pair of threes in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 35-35. Gardner went on a four-point scoring run for the Eagles before the Spartans pulled away with two minutes left in the game and secured a 49-43 victory.
Up Next: The Eagles are back in action on Monday, January 23 at Howard. Tip off will begin at 5:30pm at Burr Gymnasium.
