BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (8-10, 2-4 Big South) ended its three-game road trip with a 50-44 loss to Birmingham-Southern College (11-8, 3-3 Big South) Jan. 31 in Birmingham, Ala. The Lady Chants shot only 27.9 percent from the field, but were within striking distance at the end of the game due to tenacious defense and forced turnovers.

Coastal opened the game with a jumper from senior Temecca Barnes (Malone, Fla./Chipola J.C.), but Birmingham-Southern would score 11 straight points in the span of six minutes, capped off by a layup from Brooke Gentsch. Coastal was down 14-6 with 8:10 to go before sophomore Amber Rose (Baxter, Tenn./Upperman) sparked the Lady Chants with four straight points. BSC went back up nine, before a three by Rose made it 19-13 with 3:32 left. Two free throws by freshman Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) with three seconds left made it 23-19 at the half.

Rose led the Lady Chants with seven points while senior Crystal Brown (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) had five rebounds.

Much like the game at High Point, Coastal made a charge in the beginning of the second half, taking a 24-23 lead on a free throw from Barnes. A layup from senior Nikki Reddick (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville) at 13:59 gave Coastal a 28-27 lead, but it would be the last lead of the game for the Lady Chants. Birmingham-Southern went on an 8-0 run and with 9:34 left, lead 35-28 on a free throw from Gentsch. Coastal would get it as close as three points and had good looks to tie, but two three’s from Reddick just rimmed out.

Senior Cyndie Troutman (Hampton, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) had Coastal’s first double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds. Reddick was the other Lady Chant in double figures with 11 points. Rose and junior Courtney Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) added seven points apiece.

Birmingham-Southern, who outrebounded Coastal 44-35, was led by Ricka Spears, who also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Martina Knotkova and Gentsch added 10 points.

Coastal returns to Kimbel Arena Saturday, Feb. 7, to face UNC Asheville at 7 p.m.