VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Head Coach Mike Lane
NEWARK, NJ–Coppin State's Laila Lawrence scored the game-winner with 1.6 seconds on the clock to give the Eagles a 63-61 victory over NJIT Tuesday evening in women's basketball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
The Eagles improve to 5-4 on the season while the Highlanders move to 2-8 on the season. This season, NJIT has lost five contests by five or less points, including a one-point overtime decision.
NJIT rallied in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three, 52-49, on back-to-back baskets by Madilyn Dogs at 6:57. A 5-2 spurt for the Eagles pushed its lead to as many as six, 57-51 but a three-pointer at the top of the key by Enya Maguire slimmed the Highlander lead to three, 57-54, at the 4:40 mark.
The Highlanders, down by as many as five in the final 1:10, 60-55, scored four straight points to pull within one, 60-59, with eight seconds on the clock. After one-of-two from the free throw line by Coppin State's Lawrence to give the Eagles a two-point lead, 61-59, NJIT called for a timeout to advance the ball and set up a play. Out of the timeout, NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga's acrobatic driving layup tied the game up at 61-all with 1.6 seconds left on the clock.
Coppin State called for a timeout and advanced the ball for the final play of the game. Laila Lawrence, the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, received a lob pass at the block and knocked down the game-winning shot, on a turnaround jumper off the glass to secure a 63-61 road victory.
Angel Jones led all players with 23 points followed by Lawrence who posted a double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four blocked shots.
Leading the way for the Highlanders was junior Alejandra Zuniga who combined for 16 points on 8-of-14 from the field, three assists and three steals. The rising junior from Madrid, Spain, is 15 points shy of scoring 1,000 career points and becoming the 13th player in program history to score 1,000 points.
Freshman Olivia Kulyk scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds while Kyleigh Welsh had a personal-best night, netting eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes off the bench for the Highlanders. Welsh shot 4-for-5 from the field.
Sophomore Madilyn Dogs filled up the boxscore with nine rebounds, six points, four assists and two blocks. Aria Myers, Enya Maguire and Dogs each chipped in six points.
Alejandra Zuniga scored the first four points for NJIT in the opening five minutes and Allison Cannon tied the game at 8-all on a coast to coast play at the 3:20 mark. A short 5-3 run by CSU saw the Eagles lead by two, 13-11, after the first 10 minutes.
Both teams traded baskets to begin the second quarter and the Highlanders would use a short 6-3 spurt to cut the Eagles deficit to two, 23-21, at the 4:50 media timeout. A 7-2 run for the Eagles to close out the first gave Coppin State a five-point lead, 32-27, heading into the locker room.
Zuniga led the Highlanders with eight points while Dogs shared game-high honors with six rebounds to go along with two blocks. Coppin State's Angel Jones led all players with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Coppin State went on a 7-2 run early in the third quarter to push its lead to double-digits, 10, 44-34, at the 6:16 mark. Graduate student Aria Myers knocked down a three-pointer with four seconds on the clock to slim the Eagles gap to within seven, 48-41.
Next Up
NJIT will conclude a two-game swing at home, hosting Monmouth on December 9 at 7pm.
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