Conway, S.C. – Senior Deaja Richardson scored a game-high 19 points for Coastal Carolina, but Kierra Brimzy countered with 18 points as the Chanticleers suffered a tough, late-second 73-71 loss to ULM in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday afternoon at the HTC Center.
 
Richardson was one of three players in double figures for the Chanticleers, who fell to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in the conference. Arin Freeman had 14 points and Angie Juste-Jean added 10. Freeman also added five rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Aja Blount, the team's leading scorer at 16.0 points a game, was held to eight points to go along with a team-high six rebounds.
 
Brimzy was one of four players in double figures for the Warhawks, who improved to 6-9 overall and 2-2 in the league. Bre Sutton had 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Emma Merriweather and Gara Beth Self had 10 points apiece.
 
CCU's Juste-Jean hit a three-pointer that gave Coastal a 70-68 lead with 4:22 remaining. However, the Chants made just 1-of-4 free throws the rest of the way. The two teams were tied at 71-71 before Brimzy closed the scoring with four seconds to go with the two game-winning free throws in the final seconds. Coastal had the final possession, but Freeman's pass to Anaya Barney in the left corner was not in time for Barney to get off a shot attempt before the final buzzer.
 
Coastal got off to a sluggish start and watched ULM go on a 14-4 run to open up an early 14-6 advantage to start the game, with Brimzy getting six points in the run. The Warhawks' lead grew to 22-9 after the first period before Coastal caught life with a pressing defense that helped the Chants close the gap to just six at the half at 36-30. The Chanticleers forced ULM into 11 turnovers in the second period, which they converted into 11 points.
 
Brimzy already had 10 points at the break, while Coastal countered with Blount, Freeman, and Richardson getting six points apiece.
 
Coastal continued its defensive pressure to open the second half, as Freeman hit six points in an 8-0 run that gave the Chants a 40-38 lead. The home team stretched their lead to seven points when Miriam Recarte hit a three-pointer to give CCU a 63-56 advantage after three quarters. Coastal outscored ULM 33-20 in the third quarter, the most points they have scored in a period all season.
 
Coastal's pressure forced 21 turnovers that led directly into 21 points, but ULM made up the difference by shooting better than 50 percent (30-of-57) for 38 points in the paint. Coastal shot 39 percent (25-of-64) and was 14-of-17 from the free throw line before hitting just 1-of-4 down the stretch.
 
The Coastal women will continue their four-game home stand at 6 p.m. ET next Thursday when the Chanticleers host Marshall. They will conclude the home stand by hosting South Alabama at 2 p.m. ET next Saturday.
 
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.