BALTIMORE — Coppin State’s Physical Education Complex was home to a party-like atmosphere on Dec. 20.
Music reverberated throughout the arena and the stands were packed to the brim, a sight reminiscent of Aquille Carr’s time playing for Patterson and dazzling fans. Juan Dixon, another Baltimore basketball legend, coached Coppin State’s men’s basketball team from 2017-2023. It was now LSU star Angel Reese’s opportunity to send her hometown fans into a frenzy.
Among those in the stands were Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, along with the St. Frances girls’ basketball team. Reese graduated from St. Frances in 2020.
The Randallstown native made her presence felt, from the introduction of the starting lineups to the end of the game. Reese finished the game 11 of 15 from the floor with 26 points, six rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block in 33 minutes as part of an 80-48 victory in front of an announced sellout crowd of 4,100 in the Physical Education Complex. She helped No. 7 LSU improve to 12-1 overall.
It wasn’t a particularly easy 26-point game for Reese. Coppin State played physical basketball, often tying up with Reese, resulting in jump balls. At one point, Reese was tangled up with an Eagles player before releasing her to the ground. It was an example of the gritty and chippy play that Baltimore basketball has become known for throughout the years.
“I knew they were going to be quick, scrappy guards coming in and very well-coached,” Reese said. “Coming in and playing the defending national champions, that meant everything to them and knowing that they’ll always tell their kids about this and they’ll always be able to have these opportunities. I’m just happy that they were able to experience this and being able to have a crowd like that, I also think that’ll be fun for them to remember.”
Tiffany Hammond and Laila Lawrence led Coppin State with 21 and 11 points, respectively. Eagles head coach Jermaine Woods, Hammond and Lawrence were appreciative of the chance to host the national champions.
The Eagles weren’t just going to go away quietly, though.
“It was a fight, man,” Hammond said. “Going against Angel Reese, bumping, hitting — if you let up a little bit, she would come and [hit you]. You have to stand your ground, be strong and just be physical throughout the whole night and you have to hit her first every time or she’s going to hit you.”
A predominantly pro-LSU crowd filled the seats behind the team benches. That included Angel W. Reese, Angel Reese’s mother. For every basket made by the younger Reese, the LSU faithful matched it with a sizable roar.
Reese began the game with multiple layups, two of which came after her own steals. There was an eruption from behind the bench with LSU’s signature “Geaux Tigers” chant loudly piercing through Coppin State support. It was not the first time Reese has felt the love from an HBCU crowd.
“I would’ve loved to go to an HBCU having the resources and opportunities — they’re not the same, of course,” Reese said. “… I remember my experience playing against Poly at Morgan was just like this and having the whole city coming out and having so many people come out and supporting us has been amazing for me.”
Reese isn’t the first Angel from her high school to reach great basketball heights. Five-time WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry played at St. Frances prior to winning Olympic gold medals at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games.
Tying it all together, McCoughtry’s father played at Coppin State.
“There’s a lot of people that have come before me,” Reese said. “Between me and Angel McCoughtry, we’re kind of the faces of Maryland, especially Baltimore. I would never take that from her. She’s done things that I want to do — the Olympics and the WNBA of course as well. I’m still following in her steps and I want to achieve her goals too. So, I’m not going to give it all to myself now.”
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey had never made the trek to Baltimore before. Her team made history as the first defending national champion to play at a historically Black college or university. She did mention that it wasn’t her first time playing an HBCU on the road (Jackson State as a player at Louisiana Tech).
Mulkey took some time to reflect on being in Baltimore, singing “Good Morning Baltimore” from Hairspray and talking about her Cal Ripken Jr. fandom. She knew how much it meant for Reese to play in her hometown.
“The significance of it is that if you follow Angel Reese’s career all the way back to St. Frances, you know her history,” Mulkey said. “I know as much about Baltimore as Angel Reese has allowed us to learn. … Angel has been rewarded, but Angel has come back to Baltimore and done a lot of wonderful things and it means a great deal to her. Because it means a great deal to her, it means a great deal to us as a program.”
Next, LSU will host Jacksonville on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. Coppin State travels to Durham, N.C., for a Dec. 28 date with Duke at 7 p.m.
See Also:
• LSU Women’s Basketball’s Angel Reese: Frequent Talks With Shaq ‘Great For Me’
• Best Of 2023: Best Star Turn
Photo Credit: Coppin State Athletics/TagTheShooter Photography