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Showing posts with label MEAC Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MEAC Basketball. Show all posts
USA TODAY takes a look at what to watch for during a pivotal week in college basketball as March Madness looms:
Three to watch
Bethune-Cookman and C.J. Reed: The team won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic regular-season title since joining Division I in 1980. Reed, a junior guard playing for his father, Clifford, is averaging 19.5 points and 4.6 assists overall and 40.2 minutes a game in MEAC play. Four of the Wildcats' MEAC games have gone to overtime; nine others have been decided by seven points or fewer.
So Reed has played 643 of 665 MEAC minutes - a big reason the team is 12-1 in those 13 close games.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The 40th-annual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament is set to begin Tuesday, March 8th and run though Saturday, March 12th, with the winner earning a place among the 68-team field in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats earned this year's top-seed and an opening-round bye on the strength of a 13-3 regular-season MEAC record. The Hampton Pirates and the Coppin State Eagles each earned a share of the league's runner-up trophy with 11-5 marks. The Pirates earned the tournament's second-seed by virtue of a tiebreaker over the third-seeded Eagles. Also receiving opening round byes were fourth-seeded, two-time defending MEAC champion Morgan State (10-6) and fifth-seeded North Carolina A&T (9-7).
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its women's pairings for the 2011 MEAC Basketball Tournament, March 7-12 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Hampton will enter the tournament as the top seed after concluding the regular-season with a 15-1 mark in MEAC play.
The Lady Pirates earned the tournament first-round bye and will open up play on Wednesday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m. They will face the winner of the South Carolina State/ Bethune-Cookman matchup slated for Tuesday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Howard’s Saadia Doyle was named Player of the Year. Coppin State’s Larrisa Carter was selected the MEAC Rookie of the Year and Hampton's Quanneisha Perry earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year. Hampton’s David Six was voted by his peers as the MEAC Coach of the Year.
Tuesday, March 8 - Opening Round
11:00 AM Game 1 - No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore vs. No. 10 Delaware State
1:30 PM Game 2**- No. 8 South Carolina State/Bethune-Cookman vs. No. 9 South Carolina State/Bethune-Cookman
4:00 PM Game 3 - No. 6 Howard vs. No. 11 Norfolk State
Wednesday, March 9 - Opening Round/Quarterfinals
10 AM Game 6 - No. 2 Morgan State vs. Winner of Game 1
12:30 PM Game 7 - No. 1 Hampton vs. Winner of Game 2
Thursday, March 10 - Quarterfinals
NOON Game 11 - No. 3 North Carolina A&T vs. Winner of Game 3
2:30 PM Game 12 - No. 4 Florida A&M vs. No. 5 Coppin State
Friday, March 11 - Semifinals
NOON Game 15 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 12
2:30 PM Game 16 - Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 11
Saturday, March 12 - Championship Final (ESPNU-taped delayed)
5:00 PM Game 20 - Winner of Game 15 vs. Winner of Game 16
In college basketball, 20 is a magic number for victories. Reaching 20 guarantees nothing, but it always suggests success. With 20 victories, a major-college team can usually book its postseason plane tickets.
For lower-level Division I teams, 20 victories is a particularly rare feat. The North Carolinas and Kentuckys of the world fill their early schedules with the Savannah States and USC Upstates of the world to pad their records.
Teams like Bethune-Cookman have to play those "guaranteed money" games early to support their programs. But you might as well call those games "guaranteed losses."
In 31 years as a member of Division I, B-CU (20-11, 13-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) had never achieved 20 wins in a season until ...
Videographer: chesmon40; Play: Bethune-Cookman University's Alexander Starling (32) drives to the basket over Florida A&M's Yannick Crowder (42) at Bethune-Cookman for Wildcats 20th win of season on Thursday.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Alexander Starling was getting frustrated sitting on the bench with foul trouble in the second half. He wanted to get back in the game and make a play. At the last possible moment he got his chance.
With the score tied at 71 with 4.9 seconds left in overtime, the 6-foot-6 senior intercepted the in-bounds pass and drove to the bucket to give Bethune-Cookman a 73-71 victory over archrival Florida A&M in the season finale Friday at Moore Gymnasium.
BALTIMORE, MD -- Jordan Lee scored 19 second-half points and Coppin State snapped a six-game losing streak to Morgan State with a convincing 73-60 victory over the Bears in the regular-season finale for both teams on Thursday in the Physical Education Complex.
Lee, who was 0-for-2 from the floor in the second half, dominated the second period. He was 5-of-9 from the floor and made 5-of-8 three-point attempts.
Led by Lee, Coppin State shot a blistering 61.9 percent from the floor in the second half to overcome a 30-28 halftime deficit.
With the victory, Coppin State earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament. The Eagles will receive a first-round bye and will play the winner of the Norfolk State-Howard game on March 10 at 6 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C.
BALTIMORE, Md. (March 3, 2011)-Perhaps the only bright spot for Morgan State in the second half of Thursday evening's Battle of Baltimore “East vs. West” game against cross-town rival Coppin State, was Jamesia (Jamie) Smith's near half court shot as the final horn sounded to turn a 19-point deficit into a 16 point loss.
Coppin State's Leola Spotwood recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs and Larrisa Carter added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead the host Eagles to a 74-58 thumping of Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) season finale for both teams at the Physical Education Complex (PEC).
Morgan State (16-13, 10-6 MEAC) was led by Smith, who finished with 13 points, while Theresa Davis, who was playing in her first game back, since dealing with an injury following the South Carolina State game (2/14), came off the bench to add 10 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the free throw line.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After dropping to Maryland Eastern Shore on the road this past Saturday, the Lady Bison looked to take down the Hampton Pirates – the No. 1 ranked team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – in their final game of the regular season. Unfortunately the Bison (13-17, 9-7 MEAC) would not come out on top as the Pirates (22-6, 15-1 MEAC) took the win, 60-54.
Seniors Jalisa Pullins and Amanda Edwards where honored prior to tip off and each garnered starts against their conference foe.
Although the Pirates have already clinched the regular season title and will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament, the Bison did not shy away from the historic rivalry as Howard kept pace with a Pirate team that leads the MEAC in scoring defense (53.6 ppg allowed) and second in overall scoring (65.3).
The Bison were only outscored in the paint by four points (30-26), while the Pirates combined for 29 points off turnovers and second chances compared to Howard’s 21. The quickness and depth of Howard’s roster afforded them eight points on fast breaks and 13 points from the bench, while Hampton was held to zero points in those categories.
“We needed to get the ball in the paint more and create more offensive and inside plays,” head coach Niki Geckeler said. “We weren’t able to finish in transition. We needed more free throws.”
Hampton maintained the lead for the majority of the game and balanced their offense with four players who scored in double figures. The Bison relinquished 17 turnovers by the conclusion of the game.
Headlining the Bison in the season finale was sophomore Saadia Doyle who garnered 20 points, nine rebounds, two steals and an assist. Doyle was recently named the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year following an impressive season where she led the conference in scoring (18.2), was second in rebounding (8.9), fourth in shooting (45 percent), and fifth in free throw shooting (76 percent) entering the game. With today’s game in the books, the former MEAC Rookie of the Year has racked in 549 points on the year, inching her further up the Howard All-time scoring list.
Teaming up with Doyle was sophomore guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne who recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals against Hampton. Sophomore Tamoria Holmes also chimed in with eight points three rebounds, and finished first on the team in assists (3) alongside Curley-Payne.
“We made some adjustments,” Geckeler said. “We limited their plays at the end, especially on the inside, but they had key players in penetration.”
With less than a minute left the Bison tried to make a run to capture the lead and the win after being down 48-57. Strong defense on the part of Curley-Payne led to a Pirate turnover as Jericka Jenkins fumbled the ball out of bounds. Doyle drew a foul on an attempted layup and was successful at the line (1-1), inching the Bison closer to a hopeful win.
Several successful trips to the line would allow Hampton to eventually secure the game, ending Howard’s eight-game winning streak at home.
“I feel that we fought hard,” Curley-Payne said, “but we just came up short.”
Next week the Lady Bison will travel to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the MEAC Tournament.
Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant Howard University Visit: Howard-Bison.com
Washington, DC--Anton Dickerson scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the hot shooting of Christopher Tolson, who came off the bench to score 20 points and lead Hampton University to an 83-72 win over Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's game at Burr Gymnasium. It was the regular season finale for both teams.
The Bison (6-23 overall, 4-12 in the MEAC) came out strong in the second half and overcame a 14-point deficit with 14-2 run over the first four minutes and draw to within two at 38-36 at 16-minute mark. Dickerson scored 8 of the points during the run while Mike Phillips added four.
"We fought back and played better early in the second half," said Howard Coach Kevin Nickelberry. "The problem is when you have five guys play over 30 minutes, it becomes a difficult task. Fatigue set in and we ran out of gas."
25 Years, 620 Victories, 10 MEAC Championships, 4 NCAA Tournaments and too
many money games against the NCAA Top 25 to count -- provides
Ron "Fang" Mitchell with "Legendary Statue" in East Baltimore at Coppin State University
and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. No doubt, Coach Mitchell still has game!
Endings are usually bittersweet, often unwelcomed and sometimes contentious.
That might best describe the potential end of Ron "Fang" Mitchell's 25-year basketball stewardship at Coppin State University. If this is his farewell script, it will not be a good one for the man who built a dominating Division I program in West Baltimore in the 1990s, only to see it sputter and stall in the last decade.
Mitchell's departure this year is not certain. But his contract expires at the end of the season, the athletic director says he hasn't made a decision to retain -- or remove -- the coach, and Mitchell himself speaks only in cryptic phrases, if at all, about his job status.
Hampton, VA - When doctors told Hampton point guard Jerica Jenkins that she had cancer, she cried for a long time that April day.
It's an understandable reaction, even more so for a high school freshman, which she was at the time of the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
That day ended, and, so too did Jenkins' tears, as it's coming up on seven years since that day, and she hasn't wasted any water on her cancer.
"I was shocked," said Jenkins, a 5-foot-4 junior from Lancaster, Tex. "I didn't believe it. I was 14. I was like, 'There's no way I have cancer.' I just couldn't believe it. I cried right then. Then, I realized that I had to deal with it and move on."
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hampton University women’s basketball team will close out the regular season at Burr Gymnasium on Thursday, when the Lady Pirates take on Howard at 6 p.m.
The Lady Pirates (21-6, 14-1 MEAC), in their second season under head coach David Six, won their ninth straight game on Saturday, beating Delaware State 77-64 at Memorial Hall. Junior guard Choicetta McMillian (Fairfield, Texas) led the Lady Pirates with 16 points, while sophomore forward Keiara Avant (Chesapeake, Va.) added 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Jericka Jenkins (Lancaster, Texas) added 13 points and 10 assists for her fourth double-double of the season.
Howard (13-16, 9-6 MEAC) had its three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 53-50 loss at Maryland Eastern Shore. Sophomore forward Saadia Doyle led the Lady Bison with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Tamoria Holmes added 12 points and sophomore guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne scored 10 points in the loss.
NORFOLK - The Norfolk State Spartans were a bit put off when their league's preseason rankings predicted they would finish sixth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Now they are a bit put off by the fact that the prediction was correct. Playing lethargically throughout and pinned in by their opponent's well-played zone defense, the Spartans fell 76-69 to Coppin State on Monday night at Echols Hall. Coupled with fifth-place North Carolina A&T's win at Morgan State, Monday's loss means the Spartans (9-19, 7-8) can finish no higher than sixth, and could finish seventh. Coleman's Career-High 20 Points Leads Coppin State Over Norfolk State NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman Kyra Coleman scored a career-high 20 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds as Coppin State snapped a two-game losing streak with a 64-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Norfolk State on Monday in Echols Hall. Coleman sparked a second-half rally by the Eagles as she scored 16 of her 20 points after halftime helping Coppin State to overcome a four-point deficit at the intermission. She finished the game 8-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. Coppin State (11-16, 8-7 MEAC) shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the second half, while limiting Norfolk State to just 29.7 percent shooting. The Eagles shot just 22.2 percent in the first half and trailed 24-20 at halftime. READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
DAYTONA BEACH -- At halftime, Bethune-Cookman coach Clifford Reed knew his team had already clinched the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's regular-season championship for the first time in the Wildcats' undistinguished 32-year history in Division I basketball.
He made sure to keep the information to himself. Not that it would have mattered. The Wildcats were more intent on winning their sixth straight game, a 73-60 victory over North Carolina Central on Monday night at the Ocean Center than taking a breath to recognize history.
"When we came here, we set out to play in the NCAA Tournament and dance in March," said C.J. Reed, the coach's son, who scored a game-high 23 points Monday. "That was our goal, not just to win the regular-season title."
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – C.J. Reed scored 23 points and Stanley Elliott added 16 to carry Bethune-Cookman past North Carolina Central 73-60 on Monday night.
The Wildcats (19-11) learned at halftime that they had wrapped up their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title since joining the league in 1980-81, by virtue of Morgan State's 68-60 loss to North Carolina A&T.
DAYTON BEACH, Fla. - The Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central hit the Daytona Beach, Fla., hardwood looking to obtain its first road win of the 2010-11 campaign on Monday, Feb. 28. But Bethune-Cookman rejected the idea of a home loss, defeating NCCU 66-60 in an overtime battle.
The mighty maroon appeared to have the contest sealed, until the Lady Wildcats chiseled away at a first-half 13-point lead and tied the contest at the 8:58 mark of the second-half.
B-CU’s Jasmine Elum opened the final 20 minutes of play with a three-point shot, bringing the opening half lead to a single-digit margin. Sarah Bolden followed with a two-pointer, nailing the first five-points of half.
The two teams went point-for-point heading down the final stretch of the game, until junior Blaire Houston hit the charity stripe with four seconds left on the clock. With two shots in the palm of her hand, Houston sinked the first shot for the tie and missed the second shot for a score of 53-53, sending the contest into overtime.
Greensboro, N.C. - Thomas Coleman scored 21 points and Marc Hill sank six free throws in the final minute as North Carolina A&T beat Morgan State 68-60 Monday night.
The victory by the Aggies (15-15, 9-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) ended a three-year reign by the Bears (15-12, 10-5) as conference regular-season champions, giving Bethune-Cookman the No. 1 tournament seed.
North Carolina A&T led 46-34, in the second half, but after Morgan State cut it to six points, 60-54, Hill missed two free throws for the Aggies. A 3-pointer by the Bears' Aric Brooks made it 60-57 with 1:39 left.
GREENSBORO — Before stepping onto the Corbett Center floor for the last time, Thomas Coleman sat an extra minute at his locker. As the N.C. A&T center paused to reflect, soon the only two people who remained were the senior and the coach who recruited him.
Coleman finally broke the silence. "He said, 'Coach, I remember you sitting at my kitchen table,' " A&T coach Jerry Eaves said, referencing Coleman's recruitment. "We both just kind of looked at each other and laughed."
GREENSBORO - No matter what problem the North Carolina A&T women's basketball team presented to Morgan State Monday evening, the Bears had the same two solutions throughout. Morgan State frustrated the Aggies with efficiency from the free throw line and 3-point arc. As a result, the Bears won the battle for the No. 2 seed in the MEAC Tournament with a 74-69 win at Corbett Sports Center.
The Bears hit 11 3-pointers and made 23 of 25 free throws. Erin Hawkins led the way with 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. Brittany Dodson added 15 points on 9-for-10 shooting at the line.
In her final game at Corbett Sports Center, senior Jaleesa Sams finished with 23 points and six rebounds.
"Morgan State did what they're supposed to do, they hit 3-pointers and hit free throws," said N.C. A&T head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. "They executed brilliantly tonight."
The Aggies trailed by as many as 14 in the second half. But a Sams 3-pointer tied the game at 56 with 4:20 remaining. The Bears responded by going on a 9-2 run that included a 6-for-6 stretch at the free throw line and a 3-point shot by Brittany Noel that gave the Bears a 65-58 lead with 1:26 to play.
N.C. A&T got the lead down to three points four times within the last 40 seconds of the game. But the Bears converted 7 of 8 free throws to put the Aggies away.
The Bears (16-12, 10-5) secured the No. 2 seed with the win. The loss for the Aggies (14-13, 9-6) was costly. They slip into a third-place tie with Howard. The two teams split this season, but Howard owns the tiebreaker over the Aggies because its margin of victory was greater. Therefore, the Aggies need a Howard loss to secure the third seed.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- C.J. Reed scored 20 points and Garrius Holloman had 17 as Bethune-Cookman protected its spot atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 76-72 victory over South Carolina State in the Ocean Center on Saturday.
The Wildcats (18-11, 12-3), who led by 13 points with 4:51 to play, held off a late rally by the Bulldogs (8-20, 4-11) to notch their most wins in a season since becoming an NCAA Division I member in 1980.
By winning its fifth straight game and eighth in its last 10, B-CU now leads Morgan State -- a 69-63 loser at Norfolk State -- by 1 1/2 games. Morgan State has road games remaining at North Carolina A&T and Coppin State while the Wildcats have one league remaining next Thursday against Florida A&M. Monday's game with North Carolina Central doesn't count in conference standings.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - South Carolina State turned a four-point half-time deficit into a four-point victory as they defeated Bethune-Cookman, 64-60, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball contest at the Ocean Center. The victory is the first road win of the 2010-11 season for the Lady Bulldogs.
Bethune Cookman opened the game on a 16-2 run over the first six minutes. S.C. State then used a 14-0 run to tie the game at 16-16 with less than nine minutes remaining. The teams exchanged baskets over the next four minutes before a jumper by the Lady Wildcats' Amanda Hairston at the 4:10 mark began an 11-0 run which gave Bethune-Cookman the 34-23 lead with just over one minute remaining in the half. S.C. State closed the half with a 7-0 run to go into the locker room down by four, 34-30, at the half.
NORFOLK - Norfolk State has become the enigma of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Behind a 23-point, 18-rebound effort from center Kyle O'Quinn, the Spartans beat defending MEAC champion Morgan State 69-63 Saturday night at Echols Hall.
The Bears (15-11, 10-4) had rolled into Echols Hall tied for first in the MEAC in the loss column with Bethune-Cookman. But for the second time this season, they walked off the court victims of O'Quinn and a Norfolk State team that's hard to figure. Norfolk State had lost five of its previous six, but was far and away the best team on the court Saturday.
NORFOLK, Va. - On a day which Norfolk State honored all of its past championship teams on Alumni Day, and held its ring ceremony for its 2009-10 women's and men's cross country, indoor and outdoor championship teams, the Spartans women's basketball team played like champions as well this afternoon.
Rae Corbo scored a team-high 20 points, including four three-pointers and Rachel Gordon grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go with her nine points to lead Norfolk State to a 66-65 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over visiting Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Echols Hall.
PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- The once popular UMES Homecoming Parade that had disappeared during the past few decades will be resurrected this Saturday featuring the campus' new pep band.
University officials originally planned to keep the parade small and limited to campus, but recently changed the route to go through downtown Princess Anne after student and alumni groups signed up to participate, said Kimberly Dumpson, director of Alumni Affairs and planned giving at the university.
"The parade has taken on a whole new life," she said. "It's really turned into something bigger than what we thought."
At the center will be the pep band, which will turn into a marching band for the occasion.
Morgan State suffered through atrocious foul shooting (7-for-19), unforced turnovers (17 in all) and a 14-point second half Wednesday, but the Bears still managed to pull out a 42-39 victory over Delaware State at Hill Field House on Wednesday night.
The victory, on Senior Night, moved Morgan (10-3) within a half-game of first-place Bethune-Cookman (11-3) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with three games to play. It was the Bears' fifth straight win in February and the 100th of the Todd Bozeman era at Morgan.
"You want to do it more efficiently, like we practice it, but I'll take the win," Bozeman said.
BALTIMORE -- Delaware State missed two potential game-tying 3-point shots in the last eight seconds, falling 42-39 to Morgan State in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night.
Desi Washington fired off a 3-point shot that rattled inside the rim before coming out with eight seconds left to play.
Morgan State rebounded the miss, and the Hornets fouled Justin Black with 6.7 seconds remaining. Black missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving DSU another chance with 3.8 seconds left. Washington took the inbounds pass, but misfired on a long 3-point try as time expired.
Saadia Doyle is the winner of the HSRN National basketball fan poll. The Atlanta, Georgia native currently leads the MEAC in scoring (18.3 ppg, 38th in NCAA), ranks second in rebounding (8.8 rpg), and fourth in field goal percentage (.448). She was recently tabbed as MEAC Player of the week.
The sophomore is seven points away from hitting the 1,000-point milestone and has tallied over 500 rebounds for her career. In addition, she has also recorded 12 double-double performances on the year.
Doyle was nominated for her performances against Norfolk State and Florida A&M. She led the Bison to a 2-0 week averaging a double-double with 28 points and 11.5 rebounds. In the 66-49 win over Norfolk St. she had 38 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals. In the 67-58 victory over Florida A&M she finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Each week during the season, HSRN's staff select the top performances from all HBCU action and give the fans across the country a chance to vote for the Player of the Week.
HSRN developed the fan poll to get all HBCU alumni, students and fans involved with the Edit HTMLnational process and to also give everyone a chance to consistently keep up with the individual performances around the country. This web site and its broadcasts are designed to keep people abreast of all action around HBCU athletic competition.
By Jamilah Corbitt Assistant Director of Sports Information Howard University
Baltimore, Md. -- Coppin State shot 60% from the field en route to an 89-72 men's basketball win over Delaware State at the CSU Physical Education Complex this evening. The Hornets dropped their third straight, seventh in the last eight games, to fall to 9-17 overall and 5-8 in the MEAC. The Eagles improved to 14-12 and 9-4.
Coppin State was 33—for-55 from the field, including 8 of 16 from three-point territory. Michael Harper led the Eagles with 25 points, highlighted by 6 of 9 shooting from three-point territory. Michael Murray added 16 points (7-10 FGs) for Coppin State.
BALTIMORE -- Kianna Conner hit a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to give Delaware State a 51-49 women's basketball win over Coppin State on Monday night.
Coppin State had the last shot, but Shawntae Payne's 3-point try hit the back of the rim as time expired.
The Hornets (9-17, 5-9) won their second straight game. The Eagles fell to 10-15 overall, 7-6 in the MEAC.
Jaleah Holsey hit two free throws with 59 seconds left to put Coppin State ahead.
HAMPTON — Laura Lewis and Quanneisha Perry wrapped their arms around each others' shoulders and showed no sign of wanting to let go. Hampton University's two seniors combined for 25 points and 17 rebounds in an 88-49 victory against Florida A&M on Monday night that clinched HU's first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title in seven seasons.
"We are so excited," Lewis repeated, clinging to her fellow forward in a post-game interview.
"Every year, we were picked to finish fifth or fourth," said Perry, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds on Monday and now has 1,139 points and 897 rebounds in her four-year HU career. "(This year), hard work paid off."
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team lost its third straight game on Monday night, dropping its home finale 58-55 to Florida A&M at the HU Convocation Center.
Junior guard Darrion Pellum (Hampton, Va.) had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his deep 3-pointer bounced off the right side of the rim.
Pellum led the Pirates (19-7, 9-5 MEAC) with 17 points on 7-for-17 shooting, while junior guard Kwame Morgan (Largo, Md.) added 13 points despite shooting 4-for-13 from the floor. Junior forward Danny Agbelese (Lanham, Md.) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, and junior center Milade Lola-Charles (Laurel, Md.) blocked a career-high four shots.
Howard University Lady Bison Coach Niki Reid Geckeler
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Howard Bison women’s basketball team successfully took down the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 54-39, leaving the Bison at running on a perfect eight-game MEAC winning streak at Burr Gymnasium, and on a three-game winning streak overall.
“We play well at home,” sophomore Tamoria Holmes said. “We are all just comfortable and we want to play good for our friends and family.”
Howard (13-15, 9-5 MEAC) dominated the game’s momentum during the opening half and went on to lead 27-20. Keeping the Bison at the forefront were sophomores Saadia Doyle, Cheyenne Curley-Payne and Holmes.
“Saadia is a premiere player in this conference,” head coach Niki Geckeler said. “Anytime Saadia is in the game it opens it up for our other players such as Tamoria, Cheyenne and Adele. We are able to get confidence from our guards.”
Doyle, who was recognized by the MEAC as one of the conference’s top performers this week and for the third time of the season, finished the game with a double-double after leading the Bison in points (22) and rebounds (10). Doyle was also perfect behind the free throw line (6-6).
Doyle is now seven points away from reaching the landmark 1,000-points milestone, leaving her on pace to become one of Howard’s all-time leading scorers.
Alongside Doyle was Holmes, who went 2-for-4 behind the arc en-route to 12 points on the night. Curley-Payne went 3-of-9 from the field and chimed in with two three-pointers while also leading the team in assists (7) and steals (3). Curley-Payne tied for second on the team alongside Portia Deterville with rebounds (5).
Turnovers would cost the Wildcats (12-13, 5-8 MEAC) the game as they surrendered 21 compared to Howard’s 13. The Bison would take advantage of Bethune-Cookman’s turnovers, converting them into 24 points over the course of the game.
“We focused on taking away the high posts and guard penetrations,” Geckeler said. “We wanted to box out more and not let BCU have any offensive rebounds.”
Both Howard and Bethune-Cookman were nearly even in rebounding, (HU-33, BC-32), however the Bison were fought harder near the rim to produce 16 points on second chances. Compared to Howard, the Wildcats only notched eight points on second chances.
Overall Howard shot 41.2 percent from the field (21-of-51) while BC was held to 31.1 percent (14-of-45).
“Right now is crunch time,” Geckeler said. “FAMU and BCU were both big for us Now, we are calling our games coming up ‘championship week’.”
The Bison will look to maintain perfection at home as they host Hampton on Thursday, Mar. 3 for their final game of the regular season. Before meeting their MEAC rival, Howard will travel to take on Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m. where Doyle is expected to burst through the 1,000 point mark.
By Tiffany White Sports Information Assistant Howard University
USA TODAY takes a look at what to watch for during a pivotal week in college basketball as March Madness looms:
