Dec. 18, 2011

Final Stats

Final Stats

MYRTLE BEACH - Shatia Cole knocked down a three from the left wing with 1:05 remaining to give Coastal Carolina a one point advantage; however, the Chanticleers would not hold on as South Carolina State converted six free throws down the stretch to secure the 61-59 victory in the third game of the Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge on Sunday.

The setback moves Coastal to 6-2 on the season as SC State improves to 4-6.

For the second time in as many games, four Chants scored in double figures as Shanika Maddox led the way with 14 points. Cole poured in 13 followed by Taylor Epley's career-high 11 points and Kayla Cook's 10. Maddox and Epley each finished with a game-high nine boards.

The teams exchanged baskets in the early going of the second half before the Chants took a four-point advantage, 38-34, with 16:49 remaining. The Bulldogs then used a 5-1 run to take their first lead of the game at 39-38 at the 15:18 mark. SC State extended its lead to nine points thanks to several Coastal turnovers the Bulldogs turned into a 13-2 run over the ensuing 7:30.

The Chanticleers roared back with an impressive 13-6 run, which featured seven points from Cook, to cut SC State's lead down to two at 55-53 with 1:52 left in regulation. Cole then connected for her final points of the game to give Coastal its first lead since the 15:18 mark.

The Chanticleers would commit three fouls and turn the ball over twice down the stretch allowing SC State to secure the game from the charity stripe.

"Turnovers really hurt us tonight," said head coach Alan LeForce. "SC State played well, but our girls just turned the ball over in key situations. We can't win games if can't hang onto the ball.

"We have to get much better before we get into the heart of our schedule after the New Year."

SC State turned 26 Coastal turnovers into 29 points to mark the first time this season an opponent has converted more points off turnovers than the Chanticleers.

Coastal opened the game on fire as Cole and Maddox combined to go 5-of-5 from the field giving the Chants an early 10-2 lead with just under 16 minutes to play. Coastal continued to knock down shots and built as much as a 24-10 lead on the Bulldogs with 7:44 remaining. SC State would take advantage of 11 Coastal turnovers throughout the remainder of the half to even the score at 30-all heading into the intermission.

The Chanticleers shot 66.7 (14-of-21) percent from the floor in the first half to record their single highest shooting percentage in a half this season. Coastal finished shooting 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field compared to SC State's 47.7 percent (21-of-44).

Coastal continued its season-long trend of commanding the paint as the Chants outrebounded SC State 31-19 and held a 22-10 edge in points in the paint.

Coastal Carolina will have the next 10 days off for the Christmas holiday before returning to the court as hosts to USC Upstate on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. in its final non-conference game of the season.