ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Senior Aja Blount paced the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team to an 81-57 win over South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C., on Saturday night. With the win, the Chanticleers improved to 2-0 on the year while the Bulldogs fall to 0-2.
 
CCU's Blount scored a career-high 39 points and was joined in double digits by teammates Deaja Richardson and Blayre Shultz with 10 and 14 points, respectively, South Carolina State was led by Trinity Klock with 14 points while Lovely Sonnier finished with 10 points and Nicole Gwynn chipped in with 9 points.
 
The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the first quarter on a jumper by Victoria Jordan which was followed by a quick inbounds by the Chanticleers. Freshman point guard Arin Freeman wove her way through the South Carolina State defense to even the contest up at 2-2. Blount started her career night with six of the Chants' first 12 points for a 12-2 advantage before Sonnier answered with her first basket.
 
Coastal's Shultz hit her first three-pointer as a Chanticleer along with Richardson's 1-of-2 free-throws for a 16-4 advantage. The Bulldog's reeled off eight-straight points cutting the CCU lead to four at 16-12 before the Chants would close out the quarter on 8-0 run, highlighted by 10 first-quarter points by Blount.
 
South Carolina State opened the second quarter on Gwynn's first three-pointer of the game followed by six consecutive points by Blount to push the Chanticleers' lead to 30-15. The Bulldogs hit three free throws by Jordan and Tiona Walls cutting the CCU lead to 12. However, Coastal would take a 17-point advantage after a three-pointer by Shultz at 35-18. CCU and SCST would trade baskets back and forth to close out the quarter before Richardson stole an inbounds pass for a quick basket for the 42-22 halftime margin.
 
The Bulldogs opened the third quarter with the first basket as Shania Wright hit a layup off the assist from Nadia Reese. CCU's Shultz answered with a three-pointer and a fast-break layup to push the advantage to 23 at 47-24. South Carolina State pulled within 15 points before Blount and Richardson combined for 12 points traded baskets with the host to end the third quarter with a 62-38 advantage.
 
Coastal opened the final quarter with the first six points for its largest lead at 30 points before the Bulldogs' Klock would score 11 of her 14 points on the night. Coastal's Blount would match her opponent with 10 points of her own in the final quarter.
 
The Chanticleers will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at the HTC Center as CCU will host Erskine. The opening tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
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