It just isn?t fun anymore. For Talia Sutton, simply winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference isn?t enough. She wants more.
With her team currently riding a 39-game winning streak in conference play, Sutton?s drive and desire are among the main reasons why Coppin State (14-6, 9-0 MEAC) is on fire.
“It?s no longer fun to just win [the MEAC tournament] ? but it?s a chance for us to make history,” Sutton said of continuing Coppin State?s streak and winning a third straight conference title. “It?s kind of boring. We make it to the first round [of the NCAA tournament] every year and get blown out.”
Last season, the Eagles carried a 21-game win streak into the NCAA tournament and lost to Connecticut, 77-54.
This season, as the Eagles sit atop the MEAC standings, Sutton has started all 15 games in which she has played. She leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game, while adding 6.9 points per contest. Aside from her rebounding, none of Sutton?s stats jump off the page, but Coppin State coach Derek Brown gives a lot of credit to his senior leader.
“She?s the glue to our team,” Brown said. “She?s the team captain, and she just brings so many intangible things when she steps on the floor. A lot of things do show up in the stat sheet, but she gives extra. And I think the team plays off that. They see how hard she works. She?s diving after everything.”
The Eagles had their biggest margin of victory in two seasons Monday, defeating Maryland-Eastern Shore, 77-47. Sutton grabbed six rebounds and three steals.
But, as teammate and fellow senior Rashida Suber said, the statistic that describes Sutton best might be her decibel level.
“She?s real vocal,” Suber said. “She?s the one on the court that?s doing most of the talking and bringing us together when we?re down or if she feels like we?re not putting it out like we should. And on defense she?s a hustler.”
Brown sees a different team when Sutton is on the floor.
“We get a lot of fuel from her,” Brown said.
THE SUTTON FILE
» Age: 21
» Height: 5-foot-11
» Position: Power forward
» Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
» Did you know? Sutton averaged 15.9 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in her senior season at Curtis High (N.Y.) ? Named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team as a freshman.
