Nov. 11, 2011

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

CONWAY - Propelled by stellar collegiate debuts by Shatia Cole and AJ Jordan, the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team won its seventh consecutive season opener downing Southern Virginia, 83-68, on Friday evening in Kimbel Arena.

Cole, a native of Myrtle Beach, scored a game-high 19 points as she went 6-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Jordan, who hails from Harriman, Tenn., nearly matched her classmate as she poured in 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 4-of-6 from deep. The duo accounted for all eight of the Chants' triples on the night.

After struggling to find the bottom of the basket in the first half, Coastal opened the second stanza on a tear. The Chants scored on 12 of their first 17 shots to turn an eight-point halftime lead into a 24-point margin with just over 11 minutes to play.

Southern Virginia was able to cut the Coastal lead down to 10 with 3:13 to play as head coach Alan LeForce emptied his bench and experimented with numerous personnel combinations. Jordan halted the Knights momentum on the next possession as she connected on her fourth and final trey of the game. The Chants would outscore the visitors 6-4 through the reminder of the game to provide the 83-68 final.

In the first two minutes of the game, Southern Virginia jump out to an early 7-0 advantage on the Chants; however, an Angelica Henry layup ignited a 15-7 run as the home squad took the lead for good. During the run Jordan scored the first five points of her collegiate career as she knocked down a jumper in the lane and a deep three from the corner.

Through the half, Coastal forced the Knights into 18 turnovers and an abysmal 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. Conversely, the Chants connected on 15 shot attempts, including four - two each from Jordan and Cole - from three-point land.

Shanika Maddox finished with her fist double-digit scoring performance of her career as she accounted for 10 points on five made buckets along with leading the team in steals (7) and blocks (2). Additionally, the sophomore picked up her first career double-double as she corralled 12 boards.

Southern Virginia was led by Mina Romito's 15 points on 6-of-12 from the floor.

The Chanticleers return to action on Monday, Nov. 14, as hosts to in-state rival College of Charleston. Tip-off from Kimbel Arena is slated for 7 p.m.

Chanticleer Notebook: Coastal is now 21-17 all-time in season openers and 15-3 in home openers dating back to the 1985-86 season ... Alan LeForce has now led Coastal to a 13-2 record in season openers and an 8-0 all-time mark against Southern Virginia ... The Chants' 83 points were the most since the 2010-11 team scored 86 against Converse on Dec. 12, 2010 ... The Chants dished out 21 helpers in the game marking the first time Coastal has finished with 20+ assists since recording 23 against Southern Virginia on Nov. 13, 2009.