BALTIMORE – Despite getting a game-high 18 points from both
Laila Lawrence and
Angel Jones, the Coppin State women's basketball team dropped its regular season finale to Morgan State, 59-54, on Thursday night at PEC Arena. The Eagles now stand at 17-13 overall and 8-6 in the MEAC while the Bears improved to 13-16 on the year and 6-8 in league play.
Checking the Box Score
- Lawrence tallied 18 points and 18 rebounds for her league-leading 19th double-double of the season. She also had two assists, a block and four steals.
- Jones made 8-of-16 shots from the floor and added six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
- Tiffany Hammond hit a pair of threes for six points, followed by Niyah Gaston with five, Dani McTeer with three and both Cire Worley and Arielle-Vadrelle Belinga with two each.
- Hammond also grabbed seven rebounds while Belinga pulled down six boards.
- Morgan State outshot Coppin, 41.7% to 31.7% as the Eagles owned a 51-32 advantage on the glass.
- The Bears made 15-of-27 free throws to Coppin's 11-of-18.
- Three Morgan State players finished in double figures, led by Naya Ojukwu with 15 points.
How it Happened
- Coppin doubled up Morgan early in the first quarter, getting out to a 10-5 lead at the 2:32 mark following a three by Gaston.
- The Bears pulled to within two at the end of the period and outscored Coppin, 8-2 over the final three minutes of the second to take a 27-26 lead into the half.
- Once again, Coppin started quickly to start the next quarter, scoring eight of the first ten points, including a three from Hammond and another three-point play by McTeer to take a 34-29 lead with 7:07 left.
- Morgan retook the lead and went on a 12-2 run to take a five-point lead, its largest of the game at that point with 3:48 remaining.
- The Bears maintained the lead the rest of the period and held on in the fourth despite Coppin tying the score at 48 on a jumper by Jones with 7:38 to go.
- Morgan scored the next five points and Coppin was unable to tie the score after missing its final five shots in the final 2:18.
Up Next: Coppin earned the fourth seed at the MEAC Tournament and will take on #5 NC Central in a 12 pm start on Thursday, March 13 at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
