NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State's women's basketball team fell to top-seeded Norfolk State, 73-44, in the MEAC Semifinals on Friday afternoon at Scope Arena. The Eagles fell to 12-18 on the while the Spartans improved to 26-5 overall.
Niyah Gaston, who grew up nearby in Suffolk, Va., scored a season-high 12 points with three 3-pointers to lead the Eagles.
Laila Lawrence, who drew a double team all game, tallied nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Angel Jones added eight points with five rebounds, followed by
Faith Blackstone with seven points on 5-of-5 free throws.
Mossi Staples concluded her collegiate playing career with four points, a career-high nine rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
Norfolk State outshot Coppin State, 43.9% to 24.5%.
How it Happened
- Jones scored on a breakaway layup just seconds into the game after Lawrence won the opening tip.
- Norfolk State scored the next six points before Staples hit two free throws, breaking into the top ten in CSU history in the category.
- The Spartans answered with a 10-0 run, holding Coppin without a field goal for 8:28 until Blackstone made a layup with 1:26 left in the first.
- Gaston hit her first three of game in the closing seconds of the quarter, making it a 22-9 deficit.
- The Spartans outscored Coppin, 19-9 in the second to lead 41-18 at the half and extended their lead to 61-32 after three.
- Blackstone was fouled shooting a three to open the fourth and made all three from the stripe.
- Gaston then hit a free throw and added a transition layup as the Eagles opened the fourth with a 6-0 run but CSU was unable to overcome the large deficit.
