Coppin State guard Rashida Suber didn?t shoot particularly well during the Eagles? game last Wednesday at Morgan State.
Despite scoring 16 points, Suber missed 12 of 18 attempts. But she found other ways of contributing to help the Eagles win, 69-49, and extend their winning streak against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents to 31 games. The streak includes postseason play, where Coppin State has won the last two MEAC tournaments and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
The Eagles are currently 5-3 following a 49-45 loss at Xavier Sunday. They next play Saturday against Bucknell.
Suber, who connected on her school-record 122nd career 3-pointer in the win over Morgan State, is expected to be a vital cog for Coppin as it goes after its third straight conference crown. A first-team All-MEAC selection, she is averaging 18.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 steals while shooting 46.6 percent from three-point range. Last Wednesday, even when she wasn?t scoring, she made plays like one late in the first half, when she stole the ball, drove down the court and made a great assist to forward Jennifer Martin for a 35-25 lead at halftime.
Coppin coach Derek Brown is also high on forwards Shalamar Oakley and Talia Sutton. Oakley is averaging 11 points and 3.1 rebounds a game, while Sutton is averaging 7.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.
“Rashida is an outstanding player who is capable of making dazzling plays,” Brown said. “Talia is a player who just does all the little things we ask of her.”
Brown said reaching the NCAA tournament the last two seasons has done a lot in aiding his recruiting. Tournament games against national powers like Connecticut has also given his team the poise to play without fear.
Sutton said the team?s success means a lot to Coppin, which plays in a small conference and has a small budget.
“Winning like this is all about getting recognition,” Sutton said. “Wanting to get that recognition and respect is something that motivates us every game we play.”
COPPIN NOTES
» The Eagles went 0-9 against non-MEAC opponents last season. This year, they are 4-3 in non-conference play.
» Derek Brown is 114-89 in his eighth year as Coppin?s coach. He is a two-time MEAC coach ofthe year.
» Guard Rashida Suber earned MEAC player of the week honors last week after averaging 18.5 points per game while leading Coppin to a win over Lafayette and a near upset of West Virginia.
