All-Stars push Coastal Carolina
CONWAY, S.C.- The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (8-2) outscored a pesky Converse College (2-15) squad 43-21 in the second half and six players scored in double figures in an 80-50 win Jan. 7 in Conway, S.C. Coastal has now won six game in a row for the first time since the 1984-85 season.
Converse started out on fire, taking a 10-point lead midway through the first period. A three-pointer from Brandi Criscitiello (Maysville, NC) at the 16:14 mark gave the All-Stars a 10-7 lead. The advantage went to eight on a three from Myrtle Beach native Sydney Brown (Myrtle Beach, SC) at 14:30 and a Criscitiello jumper made it 17-7 at 13:03. A Mendy Dillard (Enoree, SC) free throw gave Converse another 10-point lead, but Coastal went on an 11-0 run, taking a 21-20 lead at 8:34 on a layup from junior Calisha Yates (Columbus, Ind./Chattanooga State C.C.). Lauren Mueller (Foley, AL) gave Converse its last lead on a jumper at 7:53, but Coastal went on another 11-0 run that was capped by a jumper from junior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) at 5:58. Coastal had its largest lead (36-24) at 3:50 on a Yates free throw and went into the lockerroom with a 37-29 lead.
Yates had eight first-half points, while Dill went for seven points. Brown led the All-Stars with eight points. Coastal shot 42.4 percent from the field and was 4-of-9 from three-point range.
Converse cut the lead to six at 18:13 on two Mueller free throws, but that would be as close as the All-Stars would get. An 11-2 run by the Lady Chanticleers gave them a 48-33 lead at 14:17 and the lead would extend to 21 on senior Jasmine Tyler’s (Jacksonville, Fla./Okaloosa C.C.) jumper at 10:55. The lead would fluctuate between 18 and 23 points before Coastal went on a 9-0 in the last 2:55.
Yates and Dill had 14 points apiece for Coastal, who had six players in double figures for the first time since Feb. 26, 2003. Senior Demaria Young (Memphis, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) and classmate Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) had 11 points apiece and senior Amber Rose (Bloomington Springs, Tenn./Upperman) and Tyler both had 10 points. Yates had nine rebounds, while Dill had a game-high six assists.
For Converse, Mueller had a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Brown also ended in double figures with 13 points.
Coastal outrebounded the All-Stars 50-36 and had a season high 24 assists to go along with 19 steals.
The All-Stars return to action this Wednesday when they travel to Hartsville, SC to play Coker College at 6pm.