CONWAY, S.C. –Senior Jasmine Tyler (Jacksonville, Fla./Okaloosa C.C.) scored 14 points in the second half, but the Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (16-9, 6-7 Big South) could not overcome a cold first half from the field in a 54-44 loss to Winthrop University (12-14, 6-7 Big South) Feb. 27 in Conway, S.C.

Coastal had a 4-2 lead at 17:32 on a free throw from sophomore C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside), but it would be the last lead the Lady Chants would have. Ashley Carey hit a three for Winthrop and after two free throws by Carey at 12:58, Winthrop led 9-4. Tyler had Coastal’s next four points and Turner hit a jumper at 9:18 to make it 13-10, but Coastal would not score for the next 5:03. Ashley Fann hit a layup at 4:33 to give the Eagles a 19-10 lead. Junior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) hit a three with 3:16 to cut the WInthrop lead to five, but Iva Milevoj hit a layup at 2:44 to give the Eagles a 21-14 halftime lead.

Coastal was 4-of-21 (19 percent) from the field in the first half. Tyler led the Lady Chants with four points, while junior Calisha Yates (Columbus, Ind./Chattanooga State C.C) and senior Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) had three rebounds apiece. For Winthrop, Carey had five points and Fann had five rebounds. WInthrop was 31 percent from the field and outrebounded CCU 21-18.

Winthrop came out of the lockerroom on an 8-1 run, capped by a Lisa Koop layup at 14:24. Coastal would score10 of the next 12 points, led by two three pointers and a layup from Tyler. Coastal cut the lead to 37-30 on a jumper from junior Vanessa Laug (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), but a three-point play from Franchesca Davenport at 7:02 put Winthrop back up by double figures. Coastal then went on a 6-0 run, capped by senior Amber Rose’s (Bloomington Springs, Tenn./Upperman) jumper at 4:46. That is when Milevoj and Carey hit three’s on back-to-back Winthrop possessions, making it 46-36 at 3:33. With Winthrop up 48-40 at 1:54, Dill hit two free throws to cut it to two possessions. Milevoj hit another big shot with 1:14, putting Winthrop up 50-42. The Eagles hit two free throws and a layup in the closing minute to give Winthrop a split in the season series.

Tyler ended with a career high 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Rose was Coastal’s other player in double figures, ending the game with 10 points. Turner added seven rebounds and two blocks.

For Winthrop, Milevoj had 15 points, four assists and four steals. Koop added 12 points and six rebounds, while Davenport had six assists.

Coastal shot 26.5 percent from the field in the game and was 7-of-29 from three-point range. Winthrop was 43.1 percent and outrebounded Coastal 37-34. The Eagles also held a 30-6 advantage in points in the paint.

Coastal ends the regular season Saturday, March 4, with a 5 p.m., matchup against Charleston Southern in Kimbel Arena. It will be Senior Night, as Coastal’s five seniors will be recognized before the game.  Winthrop hosts High Point March 3 at 7 p.m.