DOVER, Del. – Khila Morris recorded 26 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs, to lead the Coppin State women's basketball team to a 60-59 MEAC victory at Delaware State on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall. With the win in the conference opener, the Eagles moved to 3-13 overall with the Hornets falling to an identical mark on the season.
A senior from Bronx, N.Y., Morris hit the game-winning layup from the left wing with 6.9 seconds left and the Hornets were unable to convert at the other end. Morris finished 11-of-23 from the floor while hitting a three and all three of her free throws to go with three steals.
Morris was the only CSU player in double figures, as
Erin Henry followed with nine points and
Sydney Burris added seven points to go with eight rebounds and two blocks.
Shanaii Gamble and
Patricia Sosa Lora also grabbed eight rebounds and
Paris McBride chipped in with six points, four rebounds and a team-high four assists.
Coppin was outshot, 33.3% to 28.8% but took advantage of a 51-29 edge on the glass, leading to 13 second-chance points. The Eagles also forced 21 turnovers and hit 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the line.
After CSU held a 16-11 lead after the first quarter, the Hornets used a strong second quarter to take a 31-27 into the half. Coppin regained the lead in the third but Delaware State tied the score with just under a minute left to make it a 43-43 score going into the final period.
Morris hit back-to-back layups to start the fourth quarter, including an and-1 at the 8:51 mark to give the Eagles a five-point lead.
Jahcelyn Hartfield added two more free throws after a DSU turnover, but the hosts did not go away and regained the lead with two free throws with 1:33 to play.
After a CSU turnover at the other end, Burris blocked a layup by the Hornets and grabbed the rebound with 19 seconds left. The Eagles called a timeout and Morris drove to the basket for the game-winner following the stoppage.
Coppin returns to the court on Thursday, January 8 when it hosts South Carolina State for a 7 pm tipoff on ESPN+.
