Conway, S.C. – Mallory Bruce scored a season-high 23 points to lead Coastal Carolina to a 96-64 win over UNCW in a non-conference contest Wednesday night at the HTC Center. Coastal never trailed in improving to 8-1 on the season, with its fourth consecutive win.
 
The Chants had four players in double figures. In addition to Bruce, Kristin Williams had 17, Jaylen Ponder had a season-high 14 and Alancia Ramsey added 12. Three other players had six points apiece, including Jayden Marable, the point guard, who dished out season-high 10 assists. Evan Miller had 20 to lead UNCW, which fell to 6-5.
 
Coastal led from start to finish and used a 24-5 run in the second half to take a 36-point lead at 80-44, early in the fourth quarter when Bruce hit her fifth three-pointer of the game. Coastal outscored the Seahawks, 33-16 in the third quarter. Bruce finished 7-of-12 from the field, including a strong 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
 
"This was our most complete game," said Coastal head coach Kevin Pederson. "We had a good game plan and our starting five did an incredible job. Mallory (Bruce) had her best shooting game too."
 
The Chants shot 36-of-77 from the field (47 percent), but the defense did its part as well. Coastal forced 28 turnovers and committed just nine themselves. The Chants also had 24 assists on their 36 baskets.
 
Coastal jumped out to a 10-2 lead, with Ramsey getting a couple of inside buckets on the run. But she didn't stop there. She added back-to-back buckets to lift the Chants into a 17-7 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
 
The Coastal lead was 13, at 23-10, following consecutive three-pointers by Bruce, before Miller led UNCW on a 14-2 run, that cut the Coastal margin to just one, at 28-27. But Coastal regrouped to finish the second quarter on a 14-0 run, with Bruce and Williams each scoring four points in the scoring spree that gave CCU a 44-28 lead at the break.
 
Bruce had 13 first-half points for Coastal, while Ramsey had 12, with the two going a combined 9-of-14 from the field. Miller had 13 for UNCW, on 5-of-7 shooting.
 
Bruce added 10 more points in the last two periods, while Ramsey played just six minutes of the second half without scoring. In all, Coastal had all 11 players score points. With Ramsey resting, Ponder took over the rebounding chores. Ponder led Coastal with eight rebounds, and also dished out four assists.
 
Coastal will stay in town for two more home games before the New Year. The Chants will host South Carolina State at 1 p.m. this Saturday and then welcome ULM at 1 p.m. Dec. 29 (Sunday).
 
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.