Women's Basketball Looks to Soar Over Eagles
12/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SETON HALL (6-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) VS. COPPIN STATE (6-3, 1-0 MEAC)
Thursday, Dec. 21
Walsh Gym, 12:30 p.m.
TV: None Radio: WSOU 89.5 FM
The Pirates are looking to surpass their win total of last season as they take on Coppin State. Seton Hall is coming off a 15 day lay-off, due to final exams. On Dec. 5, the Pirates opened up BIG EAST play with a 66-52 win at Providence. The victory marked head coach Phyllis Mangina’s 300th career win. She became the ninth active BIG EAST coach to reach the milestone.
The Pirates are led by senior Monique Blake, who leads the team in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg). Blake had 14 points and 14 rebounds to record her fifth double-double of the season. She continued her strong play with 10 points and nine rebounds against the Cavaliers.
Seton Hall’s defense has has shown vast improvement and been a key part of its early success. The Pirates rank among the leaders in defense in the BIG EAST. The Pirates are holding opponents to 58.9 points per game and are averaging 10.4 steals. Seton Hall has a perfect 6-0 record when holding teams to 60 points or less.
Coppin State defeated Bucknell, 64-50, on Dec. 16. The Eagles forced 16 second half turnovers to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a comfortable win. Shalamar Oakley had 25 points and six steals. Rashida Suber contributed 21 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Coppin State ranks as one of the best defenses in the MEAC. They are currently lead the conference in scoring defense (50.8) and field goal percentage (.407).
Suber averages a team-high 18.8 ppg and 3.0 spg. Talia Sutton leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.4 rpg.
Head coach Derek Brown, in his seventh full season with the Eagles, led Coppin State to a 22-9 record in 2005-06. The Eagles went a perfect 18-0 record in the conference and posted the nation’s longest winning streak at 21 games. Brown was named MEAC Coach of the Year the last two seasons.
