Troy, Ala. – Senior guard
DJ Williams scored a game-high 21 points as the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team fell 84-77 to the Troy Trojans at the Trojans Arena Thursday evening in Troy, Ala. The loss halts the Chants' winning streak at six games as they fall to 10-2 overall and 0-1 in Sun Belt action while the Trojans improved to 10-2 on the season and 1-0 in the conference with the win.
Williams hit for 14 points in the second half pulling Coastal to within four as the Chants fought back from a 24-point Troy lead. The senior guard was aided in scoring by
Zacharyia Esmon and
Aja Blount, each with 14 points while
Torrie Cash added 13 points.
Jasmine Robinson led the Trojans offense with 15 points. Harriett Winchester and Amber Rivers added 12 points apiece with Japonica James adding 11 points.
Coastal trailed a hot-shooting Troy 49-31 at the intermission. Junior guard Esmon led the CCU first-half offensive production with eight points. Troy opened the contest shooting 50 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point land while the Chants struggled hitting just 29 percent of their shots from the floor.
The comeback attempt started in the third quarter when the Trojans had a 24-point advantage as Esmon hit the third of her four three-point shots. Williams followed with a layup, drawing a foul to complete the three point play and cut the Trojan lead to 18.
The fourth quarter is where the Chanticleers did most of their damage opening the period with a 6-0 mini-run before the Trojans answered with a 5-0 run of their own before both teams traded baskets. With 3:32 on the clock, Williams drew the first of three second-half offensive fouls on Troy.
The Moreno Valley, Calif. native found Blount for a quick two down on the post drawing a Trojan foul to cut the lead to 12 at 78-66. Esmon hit her fourth trifecta after Rivers hit 1-of-2 free throws to cut the lead to 79-69 with 2:41 remaining in the contest. Cash followed a pair of Robinson free throws with a three-pointer to cut Troy's lead to single digits at 81-72.
Williams scored the next five points to pull within four at 81-77 with 37 seconds left in the contest.However, it would be the last points for the visitors,as Troy made 3-of-6 free throws in the closing second to seal the win.
Coastal returns to action at South Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 4, in Mobile, Ala. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
For complete coverage of CCU women's basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWBB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
