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Women's Basketball Hosts Winthrop in Final Home Game of the Season

       

Women's Basketball Hosts Winthrop in Final Home Game of the Season

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Coastal Carolina and Winthrop enter tonight’s contest looking to snap losing skids. The Chanticleers have dropped their past two games, while the Lady Eagles enter the game with a three-game slide. Both squads have identical records in Big South action at 6-7, with Coastal Carolina holding the head-to-head advantage having won the first meeting 51-34 in Rock Hill. This will be Coastal Carolina’s last home game of the season before it heads out on the road for the final two contests against Gardner-Webb (March 5) and Presbyterian (March 9).

 

Scouting the Lady Eagles (12-14, 6-7 Big South)

Winthrop comes to Conway looking to snap a three-game losing streak, with its latest setback coming at the hands of High Point (Feb. 28) in a 73-62 defeat. The Lady Eagles are led by Ashley Fann, who is averaging 12.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest. Tiffany Rodd and Ashley Haugtvedt have been consistent for Winthrop adding 10.3 and 7.1 points, respectively. Winthrop is No. 23 in the country in scoring defense, holding opponents to 55.9 points on average. This will be the Lady Eagles’ final road game of the season before they return home to close out the regular season hosting UNC Asheville (March 6) and Charleston Southern (March 9).

Series vs. Winthrop

Series Record: Coastal Carolina leads 36-33

Coastal Carolina topped Winthrop 51-34 in the first meeting of the two-game series. The Chanticleers had three players in double figures in the contest led by redshirt freshman Courtney Grambley, who had a team-high 14 points. Last year, the teams split the series, with both squads earning its victory on the road.

 

CHANTICLEER NOTEBOOK

 

Moss Hits Stride in Conference Play

Sophomore Sydnei Moss is averaging 13.8 points and 6.1 boards per contest in Big South action. During non-conference play, Moss averaged 8.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest and now leads the team in both categories with 11.2 points and 6.7 boards. The North Augusta native now has hit double figures in the scoring column in 11 of the 12 league games played. The only team to hold her to single digits was Liberty (Jan. 26), where Moss had seven points.

 

Stull Receives Academic All-District Honors

Junior Amanda Stull was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III University First Team Thursday, Feb. 5, as announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). With this honor, Stull was on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors. As a biology major, Stull carries a 3.94 grade-point average and is the only player to start all but one gamed for the Chanticleers this season. She is averaging 10.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.05 assists per game. Stull has four double-doubles on the year and has scored in double figures 12 times, including a career-high 25 points at UNC Asheville (Feb. 9).

 

Defense Gets it Done

In Coastal Carolina’s 14 wins this season, the Chants have limited their opponents to 48.6 points per game and their strong defense has forced teams to shoot 33.5 percent from the field. When Coastal Carolina is on the losing end, it has surrendered 70.0 points per game to its competition. On the glass, Coastal Carolina holds a 584-514 advantage over opponents when it is victorious, but slips behind 469-324 on the boards in its 11 losses. They have also generated 270 opponent turnovers, posted 49 blocks and average 9.6 steals per game in 14 victories this season.

 

Kimbel for Sixth Man of the Year?

Coastal Carolina has thrived on its home court this season, playing to a 9-3 record in Kimbel Arena. The Chanticleers are shooting 39.5 percent from the field at home, averaging 61.5 points a game and holding opponents to 51.7 points on 37.0 percent shooting. Coastal Carolina has also outrebounded its opponents 38.8-34.6 at home.

 

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. Another significant number here is Coastal Carolina has gone to the line 488 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). The Chants also went to the charity stripe 32 times against UNC Asheville (Jan. 3) and converted 26 of them shooting 81.3 percent from the line. Coastal Carolina is shooting 70.3 percent from the charity stripe during conference play.

 

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 43 blocks this season, and is second in the league and No. 51 in the country, averaging 2.0 per game.

 

Over 50

Coastal Carolina shot 64.5 percent from the field in the first half against UNC Asheville (Feb. 9) and finished the game shooting 51.9 percent from the floor. The last time the Chanticleers shot better than 50 percent from the field was Jan. 7, 2008 against Morris (50.6 percent).

 

 

30 Minutes and Counting...

In 13 Big South Conference games, Coastal Carolina has three players averaging more than 30 minutes. Junior Amanda Stull averages 33.0 minutes. Sophomores Kate Jasinski and Sydnei Moss are averaging 31.2 and 30.1 minutes, respectively.

 

Jasinski On Point

Sophomore point guard Kate Jasinski returned to the floor for the Chanticleers Jan. 31 against Gardner-Webb after missing two games because of an injury and is averaging 12.7 points and 3.7 assists since her return. The Toledo, Ohio native is shooting 81.8 percent from the free throw line and 42.1 percent from behind the arc.

 

Road Testing the Chants

Coastal Carolina is 4-8 on the road, earning its fourth win with a 75-70 victory at UNC Asheville (Feb. 9). The Chanticleers have been outscored 71.2-52.9 and allowed opponents to grab 45.2 rebounds, while collecting only 31.3 boards in the eight road losses.

 

Stull Accepting Charity

Junior Amanda Stull has gone to the free throw line 123 times in 24 games and been perfect at the line in seven games. Stull earned her way to line 18 times at Alabama State (Dec. 29), where she converted 13 freebies. On the season, she is second in the Big South shooting 80.7 percent from the charity stripe and is ranked No. 89 in the country. The Rushville native has gone 99-for-123, which includes two 8-for-8 performances against Wofford (Nov. 19) and Southern Virginia (Nov. 30), and a 7-for-7 outing against UNC Asheville (Jan. 3).

 

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 3.7 points a game and has knocked down 13 three-pointers, while Epley is adding 1.6 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

GARDNER-WEBB BULLDOGS

2008-09 Record: 15-13, 7-8 Big South

Date: Thursday, March 5

Time: 7 p.m.

At: Boiling Springs, S.C. - Paul Porter Arena

Series Record: Coastal Carolina leads 1-0

Gardner-Webb at a Glance: The Bulldogs fell 80-68 to Charleston Southern Saturday, Feb. 28 and dropped to 7-8 in the Big South and 15-13 overall. Coastal Carolina topped Gardner-Webb 70-54 in the first meeting of the season behind junior Amanda Stull’s 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.