Dec. 2, 2009

Final Stats

CONWAY, S.C.- In a tough defensive battle in front of a home crowd, the Coastal Carolina University women's basketball team overcame Southern Conference rival College of Charleston, 57-53 on Wednesday night, December 2. Coastal is now 5-2 on the season, while Charleston falls to 4-3.

The Cougars jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but an Amanda Stull three woke up the Chanticleers, putting them on a 9-2 run to take a 12-10 lead with 9:39 remaining in the first. After going down six points later in the first half, the Cougars fought their way back to take their second lead of the game, 19-18, on a Jade Hughes free throw with five minutes left in the first stanza. Two Courtney Grambley jumpers sparked the Chants late, as they would go into the half with a 24-23 lead. The first half consisted of six lead changes and three ties.

The Cougars came out rejuvenated, starting the second half with a 6-2 run that gave them what would be their final lead of the game at 29-26 at 17:03. The Chants responded with a Sydnei Moss trey and two Amanda Stull jumpers in a row put the Chants up 33-29.

College of Charleston tied the game again at 33-33 with under 14 minutes in the game on a lay-up from Indya Mudd, but Stull would tally her second three of the night to give the Chanticleers another lead. The teams traded baskets, with the Chanticleers never giving up the lead, but the Cougars hung tight, never allowing the lead to be more than five points.

Deidra Jones took things in her own hands as she would score four points putting the Cougars within two at 51-49. Stull hit two free throws to go up 53-49 with under a minute to play, but was answered on the other end by a Hughes jumper that made it a one-possession game 53-51 with 33 seconds left. CofC's hopes of a comeback would be put away as Moss hit a jumper with 10 seconds left, then two free-throws to end the game.

The Chanticleers went 5-for-6 in the final minutes of the game from the charity stripe, and went 73.3 percent from the line in the second half. Coastal out rebounded Charleston 31-25.

Stull had a game-high 18 points, corralled four boards and picked up six steals. Moss added 14 points and five rebounds. In her second game back from an injury, Katie White tallied seven points and four rebounds.

For College of Charleston, Brooke Kotcella had a team-high 15 points, while Jones and Tonia Gerty added 10 each.

The Chanticleers return to road action as they take on Savannah State on Saturday, December 5 at 7 p.m. in Savannah, Ga.