ROCK HILL, S.C.-Despite a season-high 20 points from senior Crystal Brown (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South), the Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (8-8, 2-2 Big South) fell to Winthrop University (4-11, 1-3 Big South) 66-60 Jan. 24, in Rock Hill, S.C. Winthrop had 45 free-throw attempts, compared to 14 for the Lady Chants, and outscored Coastal 31-8 from the line.

Winthrop, playing its first game for head coach Derrah Metz after the firing of Cheryl Nix, came out with emotion and outscored Coastal 15-9 in the first 10 minutes. Freshman Gene’t Moore scored six of those points on layups. Coastal then went on a 6-0 run, sparked by a three-pointer from sophomore Carrie Jones (Morristown, Tenn./West). Winthrop would take a 17-15 lead at 7:02, but it was the last lead of the half for the Lady Eagles. After a layup from junior Courtney Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) and a free throw from Crystal Brown, senior Whitney Shearer (Monticello, Ky./Wayne County) hit a three at 5:23, putting the Lady Chants up 21-17. Coastal would lead by six on two occasions, before a mini 4-0 run ended the half 29-27 Coastal.

Crystal Brown scored eight first-half points to go along with six rebounds. Courtney Brown had six points and four rebounds as Coastal shot 33.3 percent from the field in the opening frame.

Coastal would enjoy its last lead on senior Temecca Barnes’ (Malone, Fla./Chipola J.C.) jumper at 17:36, but Winthrop would go on a 13-0 run over the next seven minutes, putting Coastal in a 44-33 hole. Winthrop would lead by 11 twice, the latest at 4:18 of the second half. Coastal then went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a Shearer three-pointer, but layups by Moore and Tameika Brooks kept the Lady Chants at bay. Winthrop went up seven on two free throws from Brooks with 1:05 left. Crystal Brown made layups on consecutive plays and was fouled on the second bucket, cutting the lead to 63-60 with 28 seconds left. She missed the free throw and Brooks brought down the rebounds. Arin Kress stepped to the line for Winthrop and hit both shots, making the score 65-60. Senior Nikki Reddick (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville) missed a three-pointer and a Brooks rebound sealed the game.

Brown grabbed a team-high nine rebounds to go along with 20 points. Coastal went 6-of-29 from three-point range and shots 35.9 percent from the field. Reddick had four assists to lead Coastal, while senior Cyndie Troutman (Hampton, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) had a team-high four steals.

Winthrop was led by Moore, who had 17 points and six rebounds. Kress scored 16 points and Brooks had 15 points. Robin Curley had a game-high 13 rebounds. Winthrop made its living from the line as the Lady Eagles only had four assists in the game.

Coastal travels to High Point, N.C., to face High Point University Monday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m., in a game televised by the Big South Network.