Coppin State women’s basketball opened the season with an 80-69 victory over Cheyney on Nov. 2, 2026, at PEC Arena. Anya George led four Eagles in double figures with a career-high 20 points in her Coppin State debut.
George, a sophomore from Chester, Pennsylvania, shot 7-of-16 from the floor, made three 3-pointers, and went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. The transfer from UMass also contributed five rebounds, two blocks, and three steals.
Halftime Lead Built on Strong Finish to Second Quarter
Coppin State led 41-32 at halftime after scoring the final six points of the second quarter. Samari Taylor had two putbacks during the run, and Karen Nimo followed with a transition layup with less than a minute remaining in the half.
The Eagles extended their advantage to 62-47 after three quarters. Coppin State led by as many as 67-49 in the fourth quarter with 6:53 remaining before Cheyney trimmed the final margin to 11 points.
Four Coppin State Players Reach Double Figures
Karen Nimo finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Shanaii Gamble added 11 points. Samari Taylor recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds.
Arly Zapata had eight points and six rebounds in her collegiate debut. Amber Howard added seven points and five rebounds, while Jayleen Jones scored five and Bray’ana Miles contributed four points in their collegiate debuts. Delaney Cooper finished with two points and four steals.
Rebounding Advantage Key to Victory
Coppin State shot 40.8% from the floor, compared with 34.4% for Cheyney, and held a 54-37 rebounding advantage. Cheyney stayed within reach by making 11 3-pointers and going 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.
The victory moved Coppin State to 1-0 overall and 0-0 in MEAC play. Coppin State is scheduled to host Tennessee at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at PEC Arena, with the game airing live on the MEAC Network.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Anya George’s career-high 20 points led Coppin State in the season-opening win, while the team’s 54-37 rebounding edge was a significant factor. Taylor’s double-double, Nimo’s scoring, and contributions from newcomers helped the Eagles deliver a balanced offensive effort.
Coppin State will next host Tennessee at PEC Arena on Nov. 5.
Source: Original report
