Last-second layup lifts Coppin State over Morgan State in MEAC women's basketball tournament

Kaiya Coleman hit the game-winning layup with three-tenths of a second remaining to lift the Coppin State women’s basketball team a 50-48 victory over Morgan State in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament Monday at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

Coleman scored a game-high 15 points off the bench, shooting 6-for-11 from the field. She also added four rebounds and a game-high three steals.

Brooke Fields also finished in double figures for the Eagles (5-24), scoring 11 points and adding six assists, while Chance Graham added seven points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Ashia McCalla led the No. 6 seed Bears (10-21) with 14 points, one of three Morgan players in double figures. Adre’onia Coleman and Naomi Bolasingh each added 10 points.

This was Coppin State’s first win in the MEAC Tournament since the 2015-16 season when they advanced to the MEAC Championship Game.

“It’s a relief for me because it’s my third year as a head coach, and it’s my first win [in the MEAC tournament] so it’s huge for me,” Coppin State coach DeWayne Burroughs said. “It’s big for our program, too, I believe. Brooke, Kaiya, Chance did a fantastic job today in helping us get the win. We prepared, relentless effort as a group and as a team is what carried us to a victory today.”

Morgan State entered the fourth quarter trailing 39-32 after Coppin State outscored the Bears 19-8 in the third. Morgan battled back to take 47-46 lead on Kayla Horn’s three-point play with 2:30 to play. Two free throws by Graham put Coppin State ahead, 48-47, before McCalla’s free throw tied game with 13.0 seconds remaining.

“A couple of turnovers by us down the stretch was the difference,” Morgan State coach Ed Davis Jr. said. “We kind of lost our confidence a bit. But I’m proud of my team. We played most of the year with eight players, sometimes, just six or seven. I give them kudos for the way they fought.”

The 11th-seeded Eagles will take on No. 3 seed Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC quarterfinals Thursday at noon.

Bucknell 88, Loyola Maryland 63: Ellie Mack scored 17 points to help the host Bison (26-5) rout the Greyhounds (7-24) in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League tournament.

Taleah Dixon scored a game-high 26 points and Delaney Connolly added 20 points for Loyola, which allowed Bucknell to hit 12 3-pointers.

Mount St. Mary’s 80, St. Francis Brooklyn 74: Michaela Harrison scored 23 points to help the visiting No. 6 seed Mountaineers (15-15) advance to the semifinals of the Northeast Conference tournament.

Mount St. Mary’s will face host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Scores, schedule

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

at Norfolk, Va.

First round

Monday

Delaware State 71, Savannah State 67

Today

UMES vs. S.C. State, 6 p.m.

Coppin State vs. Morgan State, 8:30 p.m.

Patriot League

Championship

Wednesday

Bucknell at Colgate, 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

at Norfolk, Va.

First round

Monday

Howard 59, Florida A&M 53

Coppin State 50, Morgan State 48

Northeast Conference

First round

Monday

Sacred Heart 68, Wagner 51

Robert Morris 64, Fairleigh Dickinson 38

Mount St. Mary’s 80, St. Francis Brooklyn 74

Saint Francis (Pa.) 91, Bryant 78

Patriot League

Quarterfinals

Monday

Bucknell 88, Loyola (Md.) 63

Lehigh 78, Colgate 68

American 67, Lafayette 47

Holy Cross 72, Boston University 70

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Loyola's Kenneth Jones (#25) drives past Navy's Greg Summers to the basket in the first half of college men's basketball game at Reitz Arena. (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)