Courtesy of Morgan State Athletic Communications
The Morgan State women's basketball team finished the 2019-20 season with a 17-13 overall record, including 12-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) to finish the regular season tied for second in the league standings. The Lady Bears entered the MEAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and advanced to their first semifinal since the 2006-07 campaign. Chelsea Mitchell was selected to the All-MEAC First Team, while Dahnye Redd was named to the third team. Head coach Ed Davis, Jr. was named MEAC Coach of the Year.
MEAC TOURNAMENT CUT SHORT
With 4:31 left in third-seeded Morgan State's MEAC Quarterfinal contest against No. 6 Delaware State (3/12), public address announcer Reverend Dr. Jerome Barber made the announcement that the MEAC would be cancelling the remainder of its basketball tournament, following the game, due to the current climate surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19). The MEAC also announced that all spring sports will be suspended through the end of the 2020 spring semester. The Lady Bears held on to defeat Delaware State, 64-63 in what was not only the final game of the tournament, but the final NCAA Division I college basketball game of the 2019-20 season.
MORGAN STATE ADVANCES TO MEAC SEMIFINAL
The Lady Bears advanced to their first MEAC semifinal appearance since 2006-07 when they defeated Delaware State, 64-63 in the quarterfinals (3/12) at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va. Dahnye Redd scored a game-high 24 points and had seven rebounds, while Chelsea Mitchell added 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to record her league-leading 14th double-double. Jihayah Chavis totaled a game-high eight assists and had a game-high three steals in the win. Morgan State would have faced No. 2 Norfolk State on Friday, March 13 at 2 p.m. for a chance to advance to Championship Saturday. Eight days earlier the Lady Bears defeated Norfolk State, 77-55 in the season finale on March 5.
LADY BEARS FINISH REGULAR SEASON TIED FOR SECOND
Morgan State closed out the regular season by winning four straight games, including a 73-55 thumping of Norfolk State in the home and regular season finale on March 5, to finish tied for second with Norfolk State in the league standings. Playing her final game at Hill Field House, Chelsea Mitchell scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Fellow senior Jihayah Chavis finished with seven points and totaled a game-high eight assists to give her 288 for her career and move into fifth all-time at Morgan. Dahnye Redd notched 14 points, two assists, two blocks and a steal, while Ja'Niah Henson came off the bench to add a season-best 13 points.
DAVIS RECORDS COACHING VICTORY NO. 400
Head coach Ed Davis Jr. picked up career coaching milestone - victory No. 400, as well as his 51st win at Morgan State, following the Lady Bears' 73-55 season finale win over Norfolk State (3/5). Davis, who wrapped up his eighth season with the Lady Bears and fourth as the head coach, has guided his teams to a total of four NCAA Tournament appearances, while at Bowie State (3) and at Delaware State (1) and two Division II Sweet 16.
MITCHELL, REDD EARN ALL-MEAC HONORS
Senior guard Chelsea Mitchell was named to the All-MEAC first team, while junior guard Dahnye Redd was named to the All-MEAC third team. Mitchell led the Lady Bears during the regular season in scoring (15.5), rebounding (9.7) and steals with 104. She finished third in assists (38) and blocks (11). The Columbia, Md. native, reached double figures in scoring 25 times and rebounding 13 times. She scored a career-best 26 points at Howard (2/1) and had a career-high 17 rebounds against Delaware State (2/24). Mitchell led the MEAC with 13 double-doubles and was ranked fourth in the nation in steals (104) and seventh in steals per game (3.59). Redd averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to end the regular season second on the team in both categories. She led the team in blocks with 20, including a season-high four at Norfolk State (2/15). Redd reached double figures in scoring 20 times and had seven double digit rebound games. The Darby, Pa. native, scored a season-high 26 points at Saint Peter's (11/26) and pulled down a season-best 14 rebounds at Delaware State (1/4).
DAVIS NAMED MEAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Morgan State head coach Ed Davis, Jr. was named 2019-20 MEAC Coach of the Year. It is the first MEAC honor for Davis, while at Morgan State and the second of his career. Davis, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Lady Bears, also earned the honor during the 2003-04 season, when he was the head coach at Delaware State. This year Davis guided Morgan State to a second-place tie in the regular season standings and a No. 3 seed in the tournament. It was the program's highest seed since the Lady Bears were the No. 2 seed heading into the 2010-11 MEAC Tournament. The 17 wins are the most since the 2010-11 squad won 17 games and the 12-4 MEAC mark matches that of the 2009-10 campaign for the best league record, while also tying the 1999-2000 team (12-6) for the school record for most MEAC victories. Morgan earned a non-conference road win over Marshall and went 10-1 at home this season. Davis becomes just the second MSU women's basketball coach to earn MEAC Coach of the Year honors, joining the late Donald Beasley, who received it during the 2006-07 season.
NOT THIS TIME; LADY BEARS SECURE NO. 3 SEED
The Morgan State Lady Bears, who had finished in sixth-place the last two seasons, were picked to finish in seventh in this season's MEAC preseason poll as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. This time Morgan State would finish the regular season tied for second and earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.
MARYLAND'S FINEST
Out of all the leading rebounders of the eight Division I women's basketball programs in the State of Maryland, MSU's Chelsea Mitchell finished first with 9.7 rebounds per contest. A native of Columbia, Md., she led the team in rebounding 20 times this season, including a season-best 17 rebounds against Delaware State (2/24). She was held without a rebound in the loss at Bethune-Cookman (1/13), which marked the only time this season she failed to grab a rebound.
Rk. Name, School, Rebounds
1. Chelsea Mitchell, Morgan State, 9.7
2. Chance Graham, Coppin State, 9.4
3. Stephanie Karcz, Loyola-Maryland, 9.4
4. Nukiya Mayo, Towson, 7.7
5. Kaila Charles, Maryland, 7.3
6. Jen Gast, UMBC, 7.3
7. Bairesha Gill-Miles, Maryland Eastern Shore, 5.3
8. Sophie Gatzounas, Navy, 5.2
CHAVIS FINISHES FIFTH ON STEALS CHART
Senior Jihayah Chavis concluded her career recording a game-high three steals in the MEAC Tournament win over Delaware State (3/12) to give her 217 career steals. Chavis took over fifth all-time at Morgan State when she totaled two steals against North Carolina Central (2/10) to give her 210 steals and move past Monique Liddell (208 from 1996-00) for fifth.
MITCHELL ENDS CAREER EIGHTH ON STEALS CHART
Chelsea Mitchell ended her career with 184 career steals at Morgan State. Mitchell tallied a game-high five steals in the loss at Norfolk State (2/15) to give her 178 steals at the time and mover her past Lisa Mickens (174 steals from 1997-01) for eighth all-time at Morgan State.
LADY BEARS TIE SCHOOL'S MEAC RECORD
Morgan State's 73-55 victory over Norfolk State (3/5) in the regular season finale gave the Lady Bears a 12-4 MEAC record, which tied Norfolk State for second place. Morgan State's 12 wins also tied the school record for most MEAC victories in a season, set by both the 1999-2000 team, which finished 12-6 and the 2009-10 squad that finished 12-4.
PROTECTING THE 'HOUSE'
Hill Field House was a tough venue for opponents during the 2019-20 season. Morgan State posted a 10-1 record at Hill Field House this season and won 11 of its last 12 home games dating back to a 70-47 win over rival Coppin State in the 2018-19 season finale. The Lady Bears' 10-1 record is the program's best home court mark since the 2017-18 team finished 10-3.
HENSON SAVES BEST FOR LAST
Freshman guard Ja'Niah Henson came off the bench to shoot 5-for-7, including 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc to tie her season high of 13 points in the win over Norfolk State (3/5). The Baltimore native also finished with four assists, two steals and a rebound in the victory.
SAYING GOODBYE
Morgan State said goodbye to its three seniors at the conclusion of the season. Four-year member Jihayah Chavis, three-year member Chelsea Mitchell along with Dezyree Morales, who came to MSU a year ago as a junior, were honored prior to the Lady Bears' season finale at Hill Field House for 'Senior Night' against the Norfolk State Spartans (3/5).
CHAVIS TAKES OVER FIFTH IN CAREER ASSISTS
Jihayah Chavis, notched a game-high eight assists in the finale win over Norfolk State (3/5) to give her a then 288 career assists to move past both Tracy Lewis (285 assists from 1989-93) and Kaira Warfield (286 assists from 1993-97) for fifth all-time at Morgan State. Chavis then added eight more assists in the MEAC Tournament win over Delaware State (3/12) to end her career with 296 career assists.
MITCHELL RANKED NATIONALLY
Chelsea Mitchell, who finished the season leading the MEAC in offensive rebounding at 4.9 per game, also ranked third in the nation in offensive rebounding. Mitchell also ranked sixth nationally in total steals (105) and seventh in steals per game (3.50). She led the Lady Bears in rebounds (292) and steals (105) this season and finished her Morgan State career with 521 rebounds and 184 steals.
GIPSON MAKES DEBUT
Senior forward Dawn Gipson made her long awaited debut as a Lady Bear when she checked into the game against Delaware State (2/24) with 3:25 left in the first quarter. Gipson, who has battled through injuries, wasted no time, as four seconds later she scored her first points of her Morgan State career, when she went baseline for a reverse layup. The Jacksonville, Fla. native finished with six points on 3-for-3 shooting, collected two steals and had a block in 12 minutes of action.
MORGAN SWEEPS "EAST VS. WEST" SERIES
Morgan State wrapped up the annual "East vs. West" season series with a 68-42 victory over rivalry Coppin State (2/29) in the 85th installment of the battle. It marked the second consecutive year Morgan State won both regular season contests. Earlier in the season Morgan State went over to Coppin and won 47-42 on Jan. 25. The Lady Bears have won five straight regular season match-ups and six out of the last seven overall meetings against their rivals.
MAKE IT A DOUBLE
Chelsea Mitchell picked up her team– and MEAC-leading 14th double-double of the season in the MEAC quarterfinal win over Delaware State (3/12). Mitchell scored 18 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
THIRD-QUARTER DOMINANCE
Morgan State has outscored its opponents in the third quarter by a whopping 84 points (508-424). In the win over Howard (2/1), the Lady Bears limited Howard to just three points in the third period.
LADY BEARS SUFFER LONE HOME LOSS
Morgan State was dealt its first and only home loss of the season, when Maryland Eastern Shore defeated the Lady Bears, 71-61 on Feb. 8 at Hill Field House. The loss ended a season-long five-game winning streak and dropped the Lady Bears to 6-1 at home this season, which also ended their seven-game home court winning streak dating back to last season.
IT'S HARD OUT THERE ON THE ROAD
After nearly pulling off the upset of Norfolk State (2/15), before getting outscored 10-1 the final three minutes of the contest and falling 64-57, Morgan State rebounded to earn a 60-47 road win at South Carolina State (2/17). With the split, the Lady Bears ended their regular season road schedule with a 6-12 mark, including 0-2 in neutral contests.
IT WON'T BE US
It took Morgan State nearly three quarters before it finally woke up in its contest at winless Coppin State (1/25). In the end the Lady Bears would overcome a late 12-point deficit (30-18) to defeat their crosstown rivals 47-42 in Round 1 of the annual "East vs. West" game. With the win Morgan State avoided becoming the first win of the season for Coppin State, who at the time fell to 0-18 overall. The Eagles lost their first 22 games before winning the next three.
NOT UP IN HERE
Morgan State remained unbeaten at Hill Field House this season after defeating North Carolina A&T (1/20). MSU improved to 6-0 with the win and won its seventh straight home contest dating back to last year's regular season finale victory over Coppin State (3/7/19).
TURNING UP THE DEFENSE
N.C. A&T entered its contest at Morgan (1/20) averaging a league-best 70.1 points per game and was limited to a season-low 38 points. It was the second lowest point total by an opponent this season. Morgan State held Notre Dame Maryland to 34 points on Nov. 8, 2019. The Lady Bears also forced 30 turnovers out of the Lady Aggies, which ranks second most this season behind the 35 turnovers Morgan State forced against both Notre Dame Maryland and Washington Adventist.
STREAK ENDERS
When the Lady Bears defeated North Carolina A&T, 42-38 at Hill Field House (1/20), the win put an end to the Lady Aggies' 28-game regular season winning streak over MEAC opposition. It would not be the first time that the women's basketball program was responsible for ending a lengthy MEAC winning streak. During the 2007 MEAC Tournament (3/9), Morgan State came-from-behind to defeat defending champion Coppin State, 69-67 in overtime in the semifinal round. The win ended a 14-game losing slide to Coppin State, as well as put to rest a 49-game winning streak against MEAC opponents by the Eagles.
THE MAIN EVENT
The Lady Bears were the main event in their MEAC opener doubleheader at Delaware State (1/4). The contest followed the men's game and marked the first time in nearly three decades that the women's team followed the men's game in a MEAC doubleheader.
UNBEATEN STREAKS ON THE LINE
The Lady Bears entered the 2019-20 campaign looking to remain unbeaten against three teams on the schedule: Notre Dame-Maryland, Washington Adventist and Hofstra. The Lady Bears were successful in extending their winning streaks against both Notre Dame-Maryland (4-0) and Washington Adventist (5-0), but suffered its first loss to Hofstra (2-1).
MORGAN PICKED SEVENTH IN MEAC
Morgan State was picked to finish seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll, as voted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Last year, the Lady Bears were picked to finish sixth, and went 10-21 overall and finished 8-8 in the MEAC to finish sixth.