Jan. 2, 2012

Final Stats

Final Stats

CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina women's basketball team outscored visiting Presbyterian College by 10 over the final 7:25 of the game to come from seven down to defeat the Blue Hose, 52-49, on Monday, Jan. 2.

Shatia Cole and Angelica Henry scored eight and six second-half points, respectively, as freshman Savanah Pippin poured in a career-high 10 points to push Coastal to a 9-2 overall record and a 2-0 start in Big South play. The loss knocks Presbyterian College to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 in conference action.

"I am really proud of the way our team responded to being down late in the game," said head Coach Alan LeForce. "The ladies kept their cool and found a way to win. If we continue to find ways to win we can really be a dangerous team this season."

The Chanticleers opened the second half with a quick 7-2 run to overcome its four-point halftime deficit and take a 29-28 lead. Cole scored four points during the stretch as Katelyn Connor converted a layup and AJ Jordan sank a freebie.

The Blue Hose responded with an 8-4 run of their own over the following five minutes to regain a three-point lead at 36-33 with 12:05 remaining in regulation. A Taylor Epley layup in the paint temporarily slowed the Blue Hose momentum; however, the visitors regained their rhythm and put together a 7-3 run to take a 43-36 lead with 7:38 to play. Irick's pull up trey in transition accounted for the Chants only points as PC's Mariah Pietrowski scored four points and Karlee Taylor sank a 3-pointer of her own during the run.

Coastal responded with an 8-0 stretch to take its third lead of the game at 44-43 with just under three minutes remaining. Pippin ignited the Chanticleer scoring streak with a 12-foot jumper, Henry followed with her sixth triple of the season and Cole gave the Chants the lead with a jumper at the 2:40 mark. Pietrowski was fouled and sank two free throws on PC's next possession to give the Blue Hose their final lead of the game at 45-44.

Epley then connected on two mid-range jumpers to provide Coastal a three-point advantage with 1:05 to play. Presbyterian's Sherece Smith made a layup with 37 ticks remaining to bring the Blue Hose within a point, but two free throws each by Henry and Cole sealed the Chants' ninth win. Smith's converted a layup with two seconds remaining for the final 52-49 score.

With the score tied at 11-all with 9:29 to play in the first half, Presbyterian reeled off eight straight points to open up a 19-11 lead on the Chants. Coastal's Pippin scored each point of the Chanticleers' ensuing 6-2 run to pull the Chants within four at 22-17. A Henry free throw and Irick trifecta were countered with layups by PC's Karlee Taylor and Devin Fothergill over the remaining three minutes to send the Chants into the half trailing by four at 26-22.

In addition to her team-high 10 points, Pippin also led the Chants with a career-high six boards. Pietrowski paced PC with 14 points and tied Smith with a game-high seven rebounds.

Coastal returns to action at UNC Asheville in the first game of its two game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 7. Tipoff from the Bulldogs' newly constructed Kimmel Arena is set for 2 p.m.

Presbyterian plays host to Winthrop on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m.