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 five games in a row for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

Converse started out on fire, taking a 10-point lead midway through the first period. A three-pointer from Brandi Criscitiello 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 at 14:30 and a Criscitiello jumper made it 17-7 at 13:03. A Mendy Dillard 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 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.

Coastal ends its five-game homestand Thursday, Jan. 12, against Morris College. Game time is at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Sophomore Joanna Pekonen (Lappeenranta, Finland/Lafayette) was nearly the seventh Lady Chants in double figures, going 4-of-6 from the field for eight points... Coastal now leads the season series 3-0. It was the first time the two teams met since 1986... Coastal had 24 fast-break points and 34 points in the paint... Young was a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range... Coastal improves to 6-0 at home on the year.