Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Savannah State Thursday

Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Savannah State Thursday

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Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Savannah State Thursday

More Information:

Game 6

Coastal Carolina (2-3) vs. Savannah State (2-6)

Date: Thursday, Dec. 16

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Kimbel Arena, Conway, S.C.

Series: First Meeting

TV/Radio: THE TEAM 93.9 FM (Matt Hogue)

Live Stats: www.GoCCUSports.com

Coastal Heads Back to Kimbel For Savannah State Matchup

The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (2-3) heads back to Kimbel Arena after a one-game trip to Chapel Hill, N.C. The Lady Chanticleers host Savannah State University (2-6) Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. The game will be the first broadcast of the season on THE TEAM 93.9 FM, with Matt Hogue on the call. Coastal fell to fifth-ranked University of North Carolina 94-52 in its last contest.

Coastal is coming off a 13-15 overall record and a 6-8 record in the Big South in 2003-04. The Lady Chants were picked to finish eighth in the Big South preseason poll.

Scouting Savannah State

Savannah State fell to Florida A&M 52-48 at home Dec. 13 in its last contest. Kermetris Hill led the Tigers with 14 points, while Nicole Hunter added 11. While the Tigers are only 2-6, they defeated East Carolina University 62-56 Dec. 1. This will be the first of two meetings with Savannah State, as the team face off Feb. 24, in Savannah. SSU also faces Big South member Birmingham-Southern College twice this year.

The Tigers are coached by Cedric Baker, who is in his second year at Savannah State. He has an 8-26 record at the school and a 200-139 overall record in his 12th year of coaching.

Series vs. Savannah State

This is the first meeting between the two schools.

Young Has Career Day vs. Tar Heels

Junior Demaria Young (Memphis, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) had a career-high 16 points in a 94-52 loss to fifth-ranked North Carolina Dec. 12. Young was 6-of-13 from the field and hit three three-pointers. She upped her scoring average from 5.3 to 7.4 points per game.

The Comeback Kids ... Almost

Coastal Carolina almost came back from an 18-point deficit in its 67-65 loss to Appalachian State Dec. 2. The Lady Chants were down 25-7 with 8:42 left in the first half, but cut the lead to eight at the half. Coastal outscored ASU 38-32 in the second half and tied the game twice, the last with 7:22 left. Junior Amber Rose (Bloomington Springs, Tenn./Upperman) had a shot to win with two seconds left, but her shot was blocked.

Brown Makes a Statement

Senior Courtney Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) came off the bench to score 18 points and eight rebounds Dec. 2 against Appalachian State. Brown was 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. She also added two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. On the year, Brown is averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds a game.

LeForce Earns His 100th Victory at Coastal in Win over UNCW

Coastal head coach Alan LeForce earned his 100th victory at Coastal Carolina with a 51-47 win over UNC Wilmington Nov. 30. LeForce is the only coach in Division I to win 100 games in both men’s and women’s basketball and only the second coach in all NCAA divisions. He has an overall 100-102 record at CCU. LeForce is the winningest head coach in Coastal women’s basketball history, passing Gina Markland Feb. 23, 2004. Overall, LeForce is 340-282 in 22 years as a head coach.

Sharing the Wealth In This Holiday Season...

The Lady Chanticleers cannot be accused of being "Grinches" during this holiday season, as they have shown the ability to share the rock. Coastal has five players averaging seven points or more in the first four games, led by senior Courtney Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) and sophomore Alisha Dill’s (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) 9.8 points per game.

...Then Taking the Gifts Away

Coastal had 22 steals in the 51-47 victory over UNC Wilmington Nov. 30, as junior Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) had seven thefts and junior Jasmine Tyler (Jacksonville, Fla./Okalossa C.C.) added six. Coastal is averaging 12.2 steals a game and has a +2.2 turnover margin.

Turner Has a Block Party Against UNCW

Junior Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) had three of Coastal’s five blocks in the 51-47 win over UNC Wilmington Nov. 30. Turner now has six blocks for the season and Coastal is averaging 2.8 blocks per game.

Tyler Makes It Happen In All Phases Against Campbell

Juniors Jasmine Tyler (Jacksonville, Fla./Okaloosa C.C.) put together a complete game in leading the Lady Chanticleers to their win over Campbell, Nov. 23. Tyler led the Lady Chants with CCU game-highs of 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in 31 minutes off the bench. For the season, she is now averaging 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals a contest.

Chanticleers Picked Eighth in the Big South

The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team was selected to finish eighth in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, as voted by the League’s Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors. The announcement was made at the Westin Hotel in downtown Charlotte as part of the 2004-05 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon.

For the second year in a row, Liberty was unanimously selected to win its eighth-straight regular-season crown, which set a Conference record. The Lady Flames have gone undefeated in Conference play for two straight years, and have won 38 consecutive Big South contests, dating back to the 2001-02 season. High Point was voted second, while UNC Asheville, Radford and Charleston Southern round out the top five. Birmingham-Southern placed sixth in the women’s poll, followed by Winthrop at seventh and Coastal Carolina eighth.

Hi, My Name is ...

Coastal will have seven new players on the roster this season and will have a whole new starting lineup. All five starters from the 2003-04 season exhausted their eligibility, including Coastal’s all-time leading scorer Nikki Reddick. The lineup for the Appalachian State game featured a true senior (Lucia Popovici), a redshirt junior (Amber Rose), two junior-college transfers (Kim Turner and Jasmine Tyler) and a sophomore (Alisha Dill). Turner and Tyler join junior Demaria Young, junior Kristy Yurichak, freshman C.J. Ware and redshirt freshman Samantha Carver as eligible newcomers. Sophomore Joanna Pekonen also is a newcomer on the roster, but will not be eligible until 2005-06 due to the NCAA transfer rule.

Dill Dishes Out Eight Assists Against Anderson

Sophomore Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) had a career high eight assists in Coastal’s 77-74 loss to Anderson Nov. 19. Her previous career best was four last season at Appalachian State Jan. 3 and Winthrop Feb. 21. Dill also added eight points, five rebounds and three steals in the game.

Turner Makes Debut in Style

Junior Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) scored 16 points and added five rebounds in her first career game in a Coastal uniform, a 77-74 loss to Anderson Nov. 19. Turner added five rebounds and had two blocked shots. Juniors Jasmine Tyler (Jacksonville, Fla./Okaloosa C.C.) and Demaria Young (Memphis, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) each had eight points in their debuts.

Home Sweet Home

Coastal will enjoy the friendly confines of Kimbel Arena for five of its first six games. The Lady Chants do not go on the road until Dec. 12 against the University of North Carolina. Coastal also will have a game against the College of Charleston at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center Dec. 19. After that stretch, Coastal will be on the road for six of its next seven games.

Senior Leadership

Coastal has two seniors on the squad this season. Redshirt senior Courtney Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) averaged 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds last season while playing in 24 games. Brown also missed four games due to injury last season. Senior Lucia Popovici (Edmonton, Alberta/Jasper Place) is penciled in as a starting center after averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 2003-04. The two have combined to average 14.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season.

Coastal Adds SIze to Roster

Coastal has eight players on its 2004-05 roster that are six feet or taller, led by junior Kristy Yurichak (Walton Hills, Ohio/Lakeland C.C.), who is 6-4. Sophomore Joanna Pekonen (Lappeenranta, Finland/Lafayette), who is ineligible to compete in games this season, is 6-3. Coastal has two 6-1 players and four players at six feet.

Carver Returns to Court

Redshirt freshman Samantha Carver (Flemingsburg, Ky/Fleming County) will make her return to basketball this season after missing all of 2003-04 to rehabilitation of a torn ACL. In high school, Carver averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds a game and was named a Louisville Courier-Journal All-State honorable mention.

Injury Update

Junior Kristy Yurichak (Walton Hills, Ohio/Lakeland C.C.) is out for

Senior Leadership

Coastal Adds SIze to Roster

Carver Returns to Court

Injury Update

Junior Kristy Yurichak (Walton Hills, Ohio/Lakeland C.C.) is out for

Senior Leadership

Coastal Adds SIze to Roster

Carver Returns to Court

Injury Update

Junior Kristy Yurichak (Walton Hills, Ohio/Lakeland C.C.) is out for the Savannah State game (back), while freshman C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) is questionable (back).

Coastal Part of Carolinas Women’s Challenge

Coastal Carolina will be part of the Carolinas Women’s Challenge Dec. 19, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The challenge, which coincides with the Holiday Invitational High School Girls Basketball Tournament, pits the Lady Chants against the College of Charleston at 1 p.m. The University of North Carolina-Georgia State University tilt follows that game. For more information on the holiday tournament, visit www.beachballclassic.com.

Radio Broadcasts

The Coastal Carolina women’s baskeball team will have at least 12 games on radio this season, tipping off with a home game against Savannah State University Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. All Coastal women’s basketball radio broadcasts are on "THE TEAM" 93.9 FM in Myrtle Beach. All games also will be available on Coastal Carolina’s athletic website at www.GoCCUSports.com.

Game Day Central

All the Coastal women’s basketball games this season will have a Game Day Central link on www.GoCCUSports.com, which will feature roster, schedules and stats for both teams as well as links to any live audio or live stats. Just click on the G under the women’s basketball schedule for access to the Game Day Central.

Up Next

Coastal travels across town to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to participate in the Carolinas Women’s Challenge Sunday, Dec. 19 against the College of Charleston. The game starts at 1 p.m., in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.