PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Coppin State's women's basketball team went cold from the field in the second half in a 65-52 loss at Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday night at Hytche Center. The Eagles fall to 6-20 with a 3-8 mark in the MEAC while the Hawks move to 8-17 overall and 4-7 in league play.
Inside the Numbers
- Mossi Staples led Coppin with 16 points with three 3-pointers while adding five rebounds and two assists. Jewel Watkins was also in double figures, tallying 16 points while matching Jalynda Salley for a team-high six rebounds.
- Colleen Bucknor added nine points while Hope Evans and Khya Jenkins pitched in with five points apiece. Evans was credited with a team-high four assists and three steals.
- After shooting 43.3% from the floor in the first half and holding a 38-33 lead, the Eagles shot just 16.7% in the second half and finished with a 31.5 percentage for the game.
- The Hawks made 40.7% from the floor and 17-of-20 from the line and were led by Ja'la Bannerman with 17 points on 12-of-13 free throws.
How it Happened
- Coppin led by as many as 14-9 early with back-to-back threes from Watkins and Staples at the 4:51 mark of the first half.
- UMES answered with a 12-0 run over the next 3:11 before Jenkins hit a layup with just over a minute left to cut the Hawks' lead to 21-16 after one.
- After a Hawks bucket to start the second quarter, went on a 13-2 run with buckets by Bucknor sandwiching another three by Watkins catapulting the Eagles back in front.
- Once a jumper from Bannerman stopped UMES' drought, Coppin led 36-30 following a three from Staples and another midrange jumper from Bucknor with 1:49 remaining.
- The hosts cut the deficit in half with just under a minute remaining, but Staples hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, giving CSU a 38-33 halftime lead.
- Coppin continued to lead for most of the third period, but UMES closed the quarter by scoring eight of the final ten points to go up, 51-46 after three.
- Both teams went scoreless early in the fourth before Bannerman knocked down three-straight free throws and UMES hit a jumper with 5:12 left to increase its lead to 56-46.
- Watkins hit a three for Coppin's first points of the fourth with 4:29 remaining, cutting the deficit to seven, but the Eagles got no closer.
Up Next: The same two teams will meet on Saturday, February 25 in a 2 pm start at Coppin's PEC Arena. Prior to the game, the Eagles will recognize seniors
Nadjy Amira,
Alexandria Hamilton and
Mossi Staples, who will be playing in their final home games.
