NORFOLK, Virginia -- Coppin State's women's basketball team's season came to an end with a 58-51 loss to Morgan State on Monday afternoon in the Opening Round of the MEAC Tournament at Scope Arena. The Eagles finish the year at 6-23 overall while the Bears improve to 16-14 and advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Genesis Lucas led Coppin with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Chance Graham notched her league-high 12th double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Candice Beverly also closed out her collegiate career with 12 points while making a career-high 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Midway through the second period, Morgan went on an extended run to take control early on. After Lucas buried a three to put Coppin on top, 16-15 with 6:24 left in the half, the Bears scored ten-straight over the next three-plus minutes to go on top, 25-16 with 3:14 remaining.
Morgan took a 30-20 lead at the half, but the Eagles would not go away, cutting the deficit to three before the Bears rebounded to extend their lead back to, 42-34, early in the fourth quarter.
The teams traded baskets but after a pair of free throws by Morgan's Braennan Farrar with 8:35 remaining in regulation, Lucas and Graham, Coppin's All-Conference selections, led the Eagles on a 10-0 run to put Coppin on top 47-44 with 6:30 to go. Graham scored six points during the stretch while Lucas played suffocating defense and came up with some big rebounds during the rally.
Despite what seemed like enough momentum for Coppin, Morgan was able to keep it close and regained the lead with 1:32 to go. After an Eagles turnover, Tykyrah Williams then drove for a layup with just over a minute remaining, putting the Bears on top 52-49 with 1:04 left and prompting a Coppin timeout.
The Navy & Gold had a couple of chances inside on its ensuing possessions but came up empty as Morgan pushed the lead back to 55-49. A pair of free throws by Beverly cut it back to four but a Coppin turnover and clutch free throw shooting sealed the win for Morgan.
Coppin shot just 12-of-46 (26.1%) from the field but somewhat made up for it by making an impressive 25-of-27 (92.6%) from the free throw line. The Eagles committed 20 turnovers and were outrebounded, 46-37. Half of the Bears rebounds came on the offensive end as Williams and Lexus Spears both had double-doubles.
BOX SCORE
Lucas closes out her collegiate career ranked seventh in school-history with 1,313 points. She also ranks second with 460 assists, 2nd in 3-pointers (128) and fourth in steals (252).
Graham finished the season 309 rebounds which is the second-most in school single-season history.
COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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