CHEROKEE, N.C. – Zaria Hurston and Arin Freeman led the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team to a 53-49 victory over the No. 5 UT Chattanooga in the opening game of the Cherokee Invitational in Cherokee, N.C., on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Chanticleers improve to 6-6 on the season, while the Mocs fall to 11-2 overall with the loss.
 
The Chants win snapped a nine-game winning streak for Chattanooga, which was their longest since the 2015-16 season. UTC was knocked out of the 2023 NCAA tournament in the opening round. The 49 points is the lowest point total on the year for the Mocs, who entered the game ranked No. 5 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Chanticleers have now won six of its nine games against non-Power 5 teams this season.

Coastal's Hurston and Freeman finished with 10 points each while getting help from Deaja Richardson and Alancia Ramsey with nine points apiece. Makaila Cange was the team's leading rebounder with 12 rebounds with Hurston just missing the double-double with nine boards for the Chants. Coastal outrebounded the Mocs 44-39 on the night.
 
UTC was led by Jada Guinn with a team-high 13 points and was helped by Hannah Kohn with nine points. Addie Porter and Guinn finished with a team-high 10 rebounds each.
 
The opening stanza began with Chattanooga opening with an 11-2 advantage before the Chants duo of Hurston and Freeman hit a pair of layups to pull Coastal to within 11-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Chanticleers began the second quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 16-11 lead, highlighted by six straight points by Ramsey. UTC answered with a 10-0 surge that forced CCU to call a timeout to break the momentum. After the break, Coastal's Riley Stack sparked a second 10-0 Coastal burst that was capped off by Freeman hitting 1-of-2 from the free throw line to lead 26-21 at the halftime intermission.
 
The Ladies in Teal increased their lead to 32-21 to open the third quarter as both Freeman and Cange scored three points each. A quick 5-0 spurt by UTC would narrow the deficit to 32-26 only to see the Chants' Richardson and Hurston go 1-of-2 from the free throw line to push their advantage to 34-26 with 3:18 left in the third period.
 
However, Chattanooga responded with a 6-1 surge to pull within three at 35-32 with just under a minute left in the quarter. Coastal finished the quarter with a 4-0 spurt to lead 39-32 as Hurston hit a fast break layup as time expired in the third quarter.
 
With 10 minutes left to play in regulation, UTC cut the Chanticleer advantage to 39-38 only to see Richardson and Freeman hit back-to-back baskets to take a 44-38 lead with just over seven minutes left to play. After an 8-3 run by the Mocs closed the deficit to one at 47-46, the Chants' Hurston increased the lead to 49-46 with a mid-range jump shot. The two teams traded the final six points for the final margin of 53-49, which included Coastal's Richardson and Ramsey hitting a combined 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.
 
Coastal Carolina will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 21, against the winner of the Michigan State and Richmond game for the championship of the Cherokee Invitational. The tip-off is scheduled for 45 minutes after the consolation game that will begin at 7 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 www.GoCCUsports.com.