Jan. 23, 2010

Final Stats

CONWAY, S.C. - Behind a stretch of 18 straight made free throws, the Coastal Carolina University women's basketball team defeated visiting Radford, 62-49, Jan. 23. With the win, the Chanticleers moved to 12-5 on the year and 3-2 in Big South Conference play while the Highlanders fell to 5-12 and 4-2 in the league.

Both teams began the first half neck-and-neck with six lead changes and six ties. With the score tied at 20 with 2:36 remaining in the opening period, senior Devin Rivers hit two free-throws, starting a 6-0 run to end the half with Coastal up 26-20. Despite shooting just 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from the floor, the Chanticleers defense held Radford to 32 percent (8-for-25) shooting from the field and outrebounded them 17-14.

The Highlanders did not allow the Chanticleers to get comfortable as they came out of the halftime locker room scoring seven straight points to spark a 14-4 run that gave the visitors a four-point lead at 34-30 less than six minutes into the half. Senior Elizabeth Weaver came off the bench, hitting a game-changing jumper followed by senior Amanda Stull's three that started the Chanticleers on an 18-1 run over 7:16, putting them up 50-37 with 5:38 left in the game. The Highlanders tried to get back into the game, but the Chanticleers, utilizing quality free throw shooting, didn't allow them to get closer than 11 points.

Coastal was the better team from the field, hitting 42.2 percent (19-for-45) as compared to Radford's 38.5 percent (20-for-52), but the real difference was the free-throw shooting. After hitting just one of its first four free throws, Coastal knocked down its next 18 straight and finished the game at 21-for-25 (84.0 percent) at the charity stripe. Radford struggled, going just 8-for-16 (50.0 percent). For the second game in a row, Coastal outrebounded its opponent, this time by a 36-29 margin.

Moss posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, including a superb game from the foul line, going 11-for-12. Rivers came off the bench to add 11 points, as she was perfect on all her shooting at 4-of-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul line. The Chants had a combined 22 points from the bench.

Da'Naria Erwin Spencer led the Highlanders with 14 points, while Denay Wood was the only other RU player in double figures with 11. Kymesha Alston led Radford in rebounds with nine rebounds and added just eight points.

Coastal will host Liberty for "Pack the House" on Monday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m., to finish a four-game homestand. The Highlanders continue a road trip to Charleston Southern, also playing on Monday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.