BALTIMORE – Coppin State's
Laila Lawrence and
Faith Blackstone both earned BOXTOROW HBCU Women's Basketball All-America honors, it was announced by the organization on Monday afternoon. Lawrence was named a First Team All-American while Blackstone received Second Team accolades.
A junior from Lewisville, Texas, Lawrence was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament Team selection after averaging 14.1 points and 10.4 rebounds along with 52 steals, 37 blocks and 30 assists. Lawrence also shot an impressive 46.9% from the floor and upped her production to 14.7 points and 12.8 rebounds in conferenced play. The 6-foot-2 forward led the league in rebounds and double-doubles (15) while ranking second in scoring, third in field goal percentage and blocks, fourth in steals and fifth in minutes. Lawrence also ranks second in free throw attempts and third in free throws made.
Nationally, Lawrence ranked tenth in offensive rebounds (4.3), 24
th in rebounds per game, 27
th in double-doubles and 42
nd in free throw attempts.
Lawrence went for at least 20 points in six games, including a career-high 30 points in the regular season finale at Morgan State where she added 17 rebounds with three blocks and a pair of steals in the win. On February 17 vs. Delaware State, Lawrence scored 16 points and pulled down a NCAA season-high 25 rebounds which is the second-most rebounds in CSU single-game history. A week later against Norfolk State, she grabbed 19 rebounds.
Blackstone was the MEAC's Sixth Player of the Yar and a First Team All-Conference selection as well after ranking fifth in the league in scoring (11.8) to go with 4.3 rebounds, 30 assists, 22 steals and 15 blocks. A redshirt junior from Harrisburg, Pa., Blackstone took fifth-most free throws in the conference while matching Lawrence for third in free throws made.
Blackstone scored in double figures in 17 games which included a career-high 22 points in a win at FIU where she made 8-of-12 free throws. She also had 19 points with a career-high eight rebounds at Syracuse where she started her collegiate career. The 6-foot guard also had 18 points at Campbell, a team-high 16 points at Duke and 15 points on 10-of-15 free throws in Coppin's historic win at ACC member Pittsburgh.
The Eagles (12-18, 8-6 MEAC) advanced to the MEAC Semifinals for the first time since 2016 before falling to eventual conference champion Norfolk State.
