Corin Adams finished with 25 points and connected on a career-high five three-pointers against Coppin State.
BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 2, 2010)-Corin Adams scored a game-high 25 points and Brittany Noel came off the bench and added a career-high 14 points to help visiting Morgan State to a 61-50 victory over cross-town rival Coppin State on Saturday afternoon in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener for both teams at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State.
The 11-point victory for Morgan State is its largest margin of victory over Coppin State in 11 years, since a 76-53 win over the Eagles on March 4, 1999 in a MEAC Tournament quarterfinal game in Richmond, Va. It is also Morgan's largest regular season road win at Coppin since an eight-point (63-55) victory at the Coppin Center on Jan. 5, 2008.
With the win, Morgan State (4-8, 1-0 MEAC) put an end to its season-long five-game losing skid, which it had to close out the 2009. The victory was also the Lady Bears' third consecutive MEAC opening win against the Eagles and spoiled Coppin's first conference opener in its new facility.
Adams, the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, shot 9-of-21 from the field, including a game- and career-high five three-pointers (5-of-10) for Morgan State, which has now won three of the last five meetings over its city and league rivals. Adams also added five rebounds, a team-high five assists and recorded a game-high two of Morgan State's three blocks.
Noel finished the game shooting 3-for-5, all from three-point range and connected on 5-of-7 from the charity stripe, while adding five rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Coppin State (3-8, 0-1 MEAC) was led by Jeanine Manley, who tallied a double-double with a team-high 16 points, while pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. Lakeytah Irving chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles, who have lost their last three games.
The Lady Bears, who last won a game on Nov. 28, jumped out to a 21-8 advantage with 9:50 remaining in the opening half. Coppin State would respond with a 12-0 spurt over the next four minutes to cut the Morgan lead to 21-20 with 5:18 left.
Adams, who scored 18 of her points in the first half, scored nine consecutive points, including two three-point baskets to give the Lady Bears a 30-22 cushion with 2:40 remaining in the half. Morgan would hold a 30-24 lead at the intermission.
Morgan State shot 35 percent (21-of-59) for the game, while the Eagles connected on 21-of-66 for 31 percent. The Lady Bears knocked down a season-best 10 three-pointers on 25 attempts (40 percent) and went 9-for-15 (60 percent) from the charity line. Coppin State finished 1-for-7 (14 percent) from beyond the arc and 7-for-16 (43 percent) from the free throw line for the game.
Both teams committed 21 turnovers each with Coppin State holding a 19-18 advantage in points off turnovers. The hosts also held the advantage in second chance points (11-5) and points in the paint (24-18). Morgan State's bench outscored the Eagles, 21-16.
Behind a team-high six rebounds from Theresa Davis, Morgan State out rebounded Coppin State, 48-43, marking just the fourth time this season the Lady Bears out rebounded an opponent. It was also the first time in the last five meetings that the Lady Bears have out rebounded Coppin State.
The Lady Bears return to action on Saturday, Jan. 9 when they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Lady Bison of Howard in a MEAC doubleheader with the men's team. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium with the men's game to follow at 4 p.m.
