CCU

Women's Basketball Ends First Half of Big South Schedule Monday Night

       

Women's Basketball Ends First Half of Big South Schedule Monday Night

More Information:  

Date: Monday, Feb. 2, 2009

Time: 7 p.m.

At: Conway, S.C. – Kimbel Arena

Series: Coastal Carolina leads 10-4

Radio: THE TEAM 93.9 FM (Chris Burgin and Randy Clemens)

Live Stats: Game Day Central at www.GoCCUsports.com

Live Video: www.BigSouthSports.com

 

Opening Tip

Coastal Carolina ends the first half of Big South play tonight against the visiting Blue Hose of Presbyterian. The Chanticleers are coming off a 70-54 victory over Gardner-Webb (Jan. 31), where they started on fire draining 7-of-8 three-pointers in the first half finishing with a season-high 10 triples in the game. Presbyterian will be looking for its first win in 13 games and its first Big South win of the season after suffering a 61-48 loss at Charleston Southern (Jan. 31). 

 

Scouting the Blue Hose (2-16, 0-7 Big South)

The Blue Hose started the year 2-3, but have not been able to find themselves back in the win column in their last 13 attempts. The 13-game losing skid has dropped them to 2-16 on the season and winless in the Big South. PC enters tonight’s game looking for its first road win of the season having dropped a 61-48 decision to Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon to slip to 0-10 on the road. Presbyterian has four consistent players in Katlin Moore, Amanda Mills, Lea Smith and Kristen Stevens, who have all earned the starting nod in the Blue Hose’s 18 games. Mills and Moore have combined to score 53.2 percent of Presbyterian’s points this season and average 11.3 and 11.2 points, respectively. Smith helps the offense adding 8.3 points per game and gives the Blue Hose a presence under the glass pulling down 5.6 rebounds per contest.

Series vs. Presbyterian

Series Record: Coastal Carolina leads 10-4

A renewed rivalry starts today as Presbyterian continues its transition to Division I and as a full member of the Big South. Tonight’s contest marks the first time in 18 years these teams will step on the court together. The Chanticleers and Presbyterian have met 14 times, but have not faced each other since Nov. 24, 1991, when Coastal Carolina wound up on the losing end of a 79-65 final score.

 

CHANTICLEER NOTEBOOK

 

Finding Range From Three-Point Land

Coastal Carolina exploded from behind the arc against Gardner-Webb (Jan. 31), but its been brewing for awhile. The Chants have gotten great individual performances from triple territory in spurts this season, but it all came together against the Bulldogs, where the Chanticleers went 10-for-16 form three-point range. Sophomore Kate Jasinski was a perfect 4-of-4, while sophomore Jessica Noll and redshirt freshman Courtney Grambley each went 2-for-3 from long distance. In the past three games, the Chanticleers are shooting 44.7 percent (17-of-38) from behind the arc.

 

Stull Helping in Every Way

Junior Amanda Stull had one of her best games as a Chanticleer against Gardner-Webb (Jan. 31). Stull’s 15 points pushed her past 500 career points and she dished out a personal best of 10 assists, falling only two rebounds shy of her first career triple-double with eight rebounds. She also added five steals and had her seventh perfect outing at the charity stripe of the season, going 6-for-6 from the foul line.

 

Moss Hits Stride in Conference Play

Sophomore Sydnei Moss is averaging 12.6 points and 5.9 boards per contest in Big South action. Moss led the team in scoring coming off the bench with 18 points and added nine rebounds in the Big South opening win over UNC Asheville (Jan. 3). The North Augusta native has hit double figures in the scoring column in six of the seven league games played.

 

Grambley Picks Up Offense

After scoring seven points in her first two Big South games, redshirt freshman Courtney Grambley netted a career-high 14 points against Winthrop (Jan. 17) in her third league game. Grambley came off the bench five minutes into the first half to spark the Chanticleer offense with eight points in the opening frame. Grambley finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field going 5-for-10. Against Liberty (Jan. 26),  Grambley scored a team-high 10 points in the first half and was the only Chant to record double figures against the Lady Flames. Grambley is averaging 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range.

 

Defense Gets it Done

In Coastal Carolina’s 11 wins this season, the Chants have limited their opponents to 46.3 points per game and their strong defense has forced teams to shoot 31.6 percent from the field. When Coastal Carolina is on the losing end, it has surrendered 69.7 points per game to its competition. On the glass, Coastal Carolina holds a 463-419 advantage over opponents when it is victorious, but slips behind 373-282 on boards in its nine losses. They have also generated 222 opponent turnovers, posted 39 blocks and average 10.3 steals per game in 11 victories this season.

 

Getting to the Line

The Chants are shooting 67.2 percent from the free throw line to sit in first place in the Big South. However, the significant number here is Coastal Carolina has gone to the line 395 times, the most in the conference. The Chanticleers were sent to the foul line 34 times (24-of-34) at Alabama State (Dec. 29) and went 25-for-29 at Wofford (Nov. 19). UNC Asheville is second in free throw attempts going 214-368, to shoot 58.2 percent, which ranks them ninth in the Big South.

 

First Impressions Count!

Coastal Carolina is 10-2 when leading at the half. The Chanticleers are averaging 30.5 points in the first half and limiting opponents to 20.3 points in the opening frame in the 12 games. The Chanticleers have edged out opponents by one point in the first half twice, but gave up the lead on both occasions (at College of Charleston 32-31, vs. High Point 37-36). On the season, Coastal Carolina is averaging 27.1 points in the first 20 minutes, while shooting 35.4 percent from the floor.

 

Sidelined for the Season

Junior Lori Whitaker is expected to redshirt this season, while transfer Lindsey Waters will sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. Redshirt junior Elizabeth Weaver played five games this year, but will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

 

It’s Block and White

Sophomore Katie White tied a Coastal Carolina program record for most blocks in a single game, tallying seven against UNC Wilmington (Dec. 18). White’s defensive prowess led her to five first-half blocks, and she rejected two more shots in the second frame. The 6-3 center has a team-leading 38 blocks this season, and is second in the league averaging 2.24 per game.

 

30 Minutes and Counting...

In seven Big South games, Coastal Carolina has three players averaging more than 30 minutes. Junior Kendra Reynolds averages 33.6 minutes and classmate Amanda Stull is playing 33.6 minutes, while sophomore Kate Jasinski has earned 31.4 minutes a game.

 

Kimbel For Sixth Man of the Year?

Coastal Carolina has thrived on its home court this season, playing to a 7-2 record in Kimbel Arena. The Chanticleers are shooting 40.1 percent from the field at home, averaging 63.9 points a game and holding opponents to 49.1 points on 34.1 percent shooting. Coastal Carolina has also outrebounded its opponents 41.3-35.1 at home.

 

 

Road Testing the Chants

Coastal Carolina is 3-7 on the road earning its third win with a 51-34 victory at Winthrop (Jan. 17).The Chanticleers have been outscored 64-53.1 and allowed opponents to grab 43.7 rebounds, while collecting only 32.5 boards in the seven losses. The scoring margin road is -10.9, while the rebounding margin sits at -11.2 in 10 road games.

 

Stull Accepting Charity

Junior Amanda Stull has gone to the free throw line 108 times in 20 games and been perfect at the line in seven games. Stull earned her way to line 18 times at Alabama StateSouthern Virginia (Nov. 30), and a 7-for-7 outing against UNC Asheville (Jan. 3). (Dec. 29), where she converted 13 freebies. On the season, she is second in the Big South shooting 80.6 percent from the charity stripe. The Rushville native has gone 87-for-108, which includes two 8-for-8 performances against Wofford (Nov. 19) and

 

Rookie Roundup

Even as a junior, Kendra Reynolds is still a rookie for the Chanticleers, but Reynolds is playing as a veteran. Reynolds has picked up three double-doubles and set a personal best of 18 points at Charleston Southern (Jan. 10). Freshmen Olivia Irick and Taylor Epley have earned playing time as well. Irick got her first career start at Radford (Jan. 24) and is averaging 4.0 points a game and has knocked down 11 three-pointers, while Epley is adding 1.7 rebounds per contest.

 

S-E-N-I-O-R-S?

Coastal Carolina’s 2008-09 roster lists no seniors. This is the first time in Head Coach Alan LeForce’s 12 years he will be missing that senior leadership. However, the 2008-09 squad is rich in talent and experience. LeForce believes this is one of the most talented groups he and his staff have ever assembled at Coastal Carolina.

 

Up Next

HIGH POINT PANTHERS

2008-09 Record: 10-11, 6-2 Big South

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009

Time: 4 p.m.

At: Millis Center - High Point, N.C.

Series Record: High Point leads 14-12

High Point at a Glance:

High Point took the first meeting between these two squads in a 67-66 decision at Kimbel Arena Jan. 5. The Panthers have played to a 10-11 overall record and are 6-2 in the Big South as of today.  Jurica Hargraves is leading the team and is third in the Big South, averaging 13.4 points per game. The Panthers also feature the top blocker in the conference in Mackenzie Maier, who is averaging 2.5 rejections a game.