Women's Basketball Faces UNC Wilmington in the Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge
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Coastal Women’s Hoops Faces UNC Wilmington in the Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge
The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (5-4) will head back to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center Wednesday, Dec. 20, as the Lady Chants face UNC Wilmington (4-5) at 5 p.m in the Crescent Bank Carolinas Challenge. The game can be heard on www.GoCCUSports.com. Coastal is coming off an 87-48 loss to second-ranked North Carolina Dec. 18.
Scouting UNC Wilmington
The Seahawks fell to Campbell 69-55 in its last game. Becca Papach and Alex Stewart had 12 points apiece in the loss, while Lori Drake had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. UNC Wilmington was held to 33.9 percent shooting from the field against the Lady Camels. On the season, Drake is averaging 12.1 points and 9.8 rebounds a game. Sahsha Taylor is close behind at 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds a contest.
UNC Wilmington is coached by Ann Hancock, who is in her eighth year on campus. She has an 89-90 record in her career and at the school.
Series vs. UNC Wilmington
The Seahawks lead the overall series 19-2 and won the last meeting 75-51 Nov. 29, 2005 in Wilmington. Coastal won the last time the two teams played in Conway, as head coach Alan LeForce picked up his 100th win at Coastal in a 51-47 win. Senior Calisha Yates (Columbus, Ind./Chattanooga State C.C.) led Coastal with 15 points in last year’s contest.
Dill Second in Nation in Scoring Average
Senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) is averaging 23.2 points per game after nine contests, good for second in points per game in NCAA Division I basketball. Dill set a new career high with 33 points in a 58-33 win over Campbell Dec. 11. She has scored 26 or more points on five occasions this year and now has 899 career points. Dill trails Carrie Moore of Western Michigan, who is averaging 27.9 points a contest.
Lyons Finds Form vs. #2 Tar Heels
Freshman Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) went 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, for 19 points against #2 North Carolina Dec. 18. Lyons upped her scoring average to 9.6 points per game and leads the team with 20 three pointers. Also, only two players have scored more points against the Tar Heels this season than Lyons - Tennessee’s Candace Parker (27) and Gonzaga’s Jami Bjorklund (21).
Coastal Sweeps Big South Awards
Coastal Carolina’s Alisha Dill has been named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Player of the Week in women’s basketball, while teammate Devin Rivers was tabbed New Balance Freshman of the Week for games played Dec. 11-17, the League announced today.
Dill, a senior from Johnson City, Tenn., averaged 28.0 points per game to lead the Lady Chanticleers to a 2-1 record on the week. She got her week started with 33 points on 13-of-26 for 50 percent from the floor and 5-of-13 from downtown as CCU downed Campbell, 58-33 on Dec. 11. Two days later, the guard connected on 10-of-18 from the field (56 percent) and added two treys and two free throws for 24 points to lead the Lady Chants to the win over North Greenville. She capped her week off with 27 points, including five treys in Coastal’s game against UNC Greensboro on Dec. 16. For the week, Dill hit 32-of-66 shots from the floor for 49 percent and shot 43 percent from beyond the arc (12-of-28), and posted 14 boards, seven assists and seven steals. Dill currently ranks No. 2 in the country in scoring, averaging 24.8 points per contest.
Rivers, a center from Miami, Fla., averaged 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 points per game on the week. She got her week started with seven boards against Campbell on Dec. 11 and followed that performance with a career-high eight points and eight rebounds against North Greenville two days later. On Dec. 16 at UNCG, she closed her week out with three points and two rebounds in the loss to the Spartans.
Dill Also Block Shot Leader
Senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) blocked three UNC Greensboro shots in the 64-54 loss Dec. 16. She now has 11 blocks on the year, good for the team lead.
Ware Sets Career High In Rebounds
Junior C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) set a career best by grabbing eight rebounds in a 64-54 loss to UNC Greensboro Dec. 16. The point guard led all players with the eight boards and now is averaging 3.8 rebounds a game.
Defense Especially Tough From Outside the Arc
The Coastal Carolina defense is holding its opponents to just 24.1 percent from three-point range this season. This includes holding UNC Greensboro to just 2-of-10 from three in a 64-54 loss Dec. 16. Meanwhile, the Coastal offense is shooting 37.0 percent from behind the arc, led by freshman Lacey Lyons’ (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) 45.5 percent.
Another Solid Night on the Boards for Coastal
Coastal Carolina outrebounded North Greenville 47-30 in its 74-46 win over the Crusaders Dec. 13. This also includes a 23-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Freshman Devin Rivers (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela) had eight rebounds, while junior Victoria Blanchard (Eutawville, S.C./Walters State C.C.) had seven caroms. On the season, Coastal is sporting a +2.1 rebounding margin against its opponents.
Dill Looking to Crash Top-10 Scoring List
Senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) is just two points away from moving into 10th place on Coastal’s all-time scoring list. Currently, Tina Boester (1992-96) is in the 10th slot with 900 career points.
Ware in Giving Mood This Holiday Season
Junior C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) tied her career high with seven assists in a 74-46 win over North Greenville Dec. 13. The junior point guard leads the team with 3.3 assists per game and also is averaging 3.8 rebounds a contest.
Coastal Defense Stingy in Win over Campbell
The Coastal Carolina defense held Campbell to just 20 percent shooting and 33 points in the 58-33 win over the Fighting Camels Dec. 11. Campbell was just 1-of-15 from three-point range and was held to its lowest scoring output in school history. Coastal’s defense forced Campbell into 22 turnovers and senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) led the charge with three steals.
Coastal now has given up 36.7 points in the three games at Kimbel Arena this season. Coastal started the home campaign with a 90-31 win over Southern Virginia and held North Greenville to 46 points Dec. 13.
Dill Feeling It in Win over Camels
Senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) continued her breakout senior campaign with a 33-point outburst against Campbell Dec. 11. Dill was 13-of-26 from the field, hit five-three pointers and had five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Dill became the third player in the Big South this season to score 30 or more points, joining freshman teammate Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) and Liberty’s Megan Frazee. She also has scored 26 or more points in a game five times this season.
Lyons Named Big South Freshman of the Week
Coastal Carolina freshman women’s basketball player Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) was selected as the Big South Conference New Balance Freshman of the Week for games played Nov. 20-26, the League announced.
Lyons, a forward from Beverly Hills, Fla., posted 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, including 30 points against Howard, to lead the Lady Chanticleers to a 2-1 record on the week. She got things going with 11 points and seven boards in CCU’s 90-31 win over Southern Virginia on Nov. 20. Against IPFW on Nov. 25, she put in five points and notched one board for Coastal. The next day against Howard, Lyons caught fire as she was 10-of-12 from the floor (83 percent), 6-of-8 from three-point land (75 percent) and was perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line for Coastal Carolina. She also chipped in six boards in the contest as CCU dropped the Lady Bison, 85-78. For the week, she was 56 percent from the floor on 15-of-27 shots, 59 percent from beyond the arc on 10-of-17 tries and was perfect from the line, connecting on all six attempts.
Coastal Puts Up Points Against Howard
Coastal Carolina shot 48.3 percent from the floor, including 54.5 percent from three-point range, in its 85-78 win over Howard Nov. 26. The 85 points were the highest scored by Coastal against a Division I opponent since Feb. 1, 2003 in a 96-94 triple-overtime win over Radford.
Ware Earns Career Best vs. IPFW
Junior C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) scored 11 points, which was a career-high, in a 60-49 loss to IPFW Nov. 25. Ware was 5-for-11 from the field and hit her only three-point attempt. Her career high was 10 points vs. Morris Jan. 12, 2006.
Rivers Rebounds From Both Sides of the Glass
Freshman Devin Rivers (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela) had a team-high eight rebounds in the 60-49 loss to IPFW Nov. 25. Five of the eight boards were offensive and the freshman added two blocks, an assist and a steal.
Chants Go Cold vs. Mastodons
Coastal Carolina shot only 25 percent from the floor in the 60-49 loss to IPFW Nov. 25. Coastal was 2-of-14 from three-point range, while senior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) went 3-of-27 from the floor.
De-Fense, De-Fense
Coastal Carolina held Southern Virginia to 31 points Nov. 20, the second lowest point total in school history by an opponent. Southern Virginia shot 25.5 percent and went 1-of-15 from the three-point line. The school record for lowest points in a game by an opponent is 23 by Coker during the 1982-83 season.
Stull Named Big South Freshman of the Week
Coastal Carolina freshman women’s basketball player Amanda Stull (Rushville, Ind./Rushville Consolidated) was selected as the Big South Conference New Balance Freshman of the Week for games played Nov. 13-19, the League announced.
Stull, a guard, connected on all four of her shots from the field and posted eight points in Coastal’s 70-56 win over the College of Charleston Nov. 16. She also dished out two assists and came up with three steals and one rebound for the Lady Chants in the win.
Stull becomes Coastal’s first Big South Freshman of the Week since Whitney Shearer was named on Feb. 5, 2001.
Chairwomen of the Boards
Coastal Carolina grabbed 63 rebounds in the 90-31 win over Southern Virginia Nov. 20. The Lady Chants had 32 offensive rebounds in the win and five players had six or more boards. Junior Joanna Pekonen (Lappeenranta, Finland/Lafayette) led the team with eight boards, while freshman Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) and redshirt freshman Elizabeth Weaver (Unicoi, Tenn./Unicoi County) had seven apiece.
Coastal Improves in Season Openers with Win over CofC
Coastal Carolina improved to 8-2 in season openers under head coach Alan LeForce with its 70-56 win over the College of Charleston Nov. 16. Coastal shot 51 percent from the field in winning its second straight opener on the road.
New Kids on the Block
Coastal played four newcomers in the win over the Cougars and they combined for 21 points and eight rebounds. Junior Victoria Blanchard (Eutawville, S.C./Walters State C.C.) made her first career start and had seven points and two assists. Freshman Amanda Stull (Rushville, Ind./Rushville Consolidated) was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for eight points while adding two assists. Freshman Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River) hit two big three-pointers for six points, while freshman Devin Rivers (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela) had five rebounds and three assists.
Chanticleers Picked Fourth in the Big South
The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, as voted on by the League’s Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and media panel. The announcement was made Oct. 10 in Charlotte, N.C., as part of the 2006-07 Tip-Off Media Luncheon.
Coastal received 117 points in the preseason poll. Liberty was picked to finish first for the 10th year in a row, as the Lady Flames garnered 21 first-place votes and finisihing with 202 points. The Lady Flames were followed by High Point (178 points, four first-place votes), Winthrop (136 points), Coastal, Radford (115 points, one first-place vote), UNC Asheville (100 points), Birmingham-Southern and Charleston Southern (44 points apiece).
Head Coach Alan LeForce
Coastal head coach Alan LeForce (Cumberland (Ky.) ’57) is starting his 10th season as the Lady Chanticleers’ mentor. He has a 130-131 record at CCU and a 370-311 overall record in 24 seasons as a head coach. LeForce is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in CCU history and is the only coach to win 100 games in both Division I men’s and women’s basketball.
New Faces for the Chants
Coastal Carolina has eight players on its roster that will play their first Division I season. Five of the eight newcomers are true freshmen, as Lauren Grochowski (Naperville, Ill./Central), Lacey Lyons (Beverly Hills, Fla./Crystal River), Devin Rivers (Miami, Fla./Felix Varela), Amanda Stull (Rushville, Ind./Rushville Consolidated) and Lori Whitaker (Bloomington, Ind./North) are just out of high school. Elizabeth Weaver (Unicoi, Tenn./Unicoi County) redshirted her first season at CCU, while Victoria Blanchard (Holly Hill, S.C./Holly Hill-Roberts) transferred from Walters State Community College. Heather Hummel (Franklin, Pa./Rocky Grove) transferred from Slippery Rock and will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Laug Starts Redshirt Senior Campaign
Redshirt senior Vanessa Laug (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) started her fifth season Thursday night against the College of Charleston. Laug redshirted during the 2002-03 campaign with a knee injury after playing four games for the Lady Chants. Laug has 206 points and 197 rebounds in her Coastal career.
All CCU Games to be Broadcast on the Internet
The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team will have every regular-season and post-season game broadcast on the internet during the 2006-07 season, the first time in school history that every minute of CCU women’s basketball will be on the air. Beginning with the season opener Nov. 16 against the College of Charleston, all 28 games will be available on www.GoCCUSports.com. The broadcast will start 10 minutes prior to tipoff.
In addition, every post-season game, beginning with the 2007 Advance Auto Parts Big South Tournament March 8 in Asheville, N.C., will be broadcast on both www.GoCCUSports.com and THE TEAM 93.9 FM in Myrtle Beach.
Big South to Video Stream All Women’s Basketball Conference Games
For the first time in League history, the Big South Conference will video stream live its women’s basketball home Conference games free on the its premium content website, The Big South EDGE presented by Aéropostale, it was announced by Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. All Conference games involving Big South members will be available exclusively online beginning with the 2006-07 season, and the webcasts will utilize a one-to-three camera production with home audio, when available.
Coastal’s first game on the EDGE will be Jan. 13 against Liberty in Kimbel Arena at 2 p.m.
CCU Signs Four Student-Athletes to National Letters-of-Intent
The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball program has signed four student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent, head coach Alan LeForce announced Nov. 9.
"We feel like we’ve added another strong class," LeForce said. "We think this group is every bit as good as the recruiting class last year. We’ve had two straight strong recruiting classes and that’s the way you build a program. We feel very good about it. We’ll still be young as we’ll have 10 freshmen and sophomores for next season, but they are good players."
The following is a list of the student-athletes coming to Coastal Carolina in 2007-08.
Name Pos. Ht. Hometown
Courtney Grambley F 6-1 Morrow, Ohio
Kate Jasinski G 5-6 Birmingham, Ala.
Jessica Noll F 6-0 Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Katie White C 6-3 St. Charles, Ill.
Coastal Loses Scoring from Last Season
Coastal Carolina graduated 59.6 percent of its scoring off last year’s team, including two double-digit scorers in Amber Rose (11.5 ppg) and Kim Turner (11.0 ppg). Coastal does return Alisha Dill and Calisha Yates, who averaged 11.3 and 9.4 points per game, respectively.
Injury Report
Redshirt freshman Elizabeth Weaver (Unicoi, Tenn./Unicoi County) and freshman Lauren Grochowski (Naperville, Ill./Central) are out for tonight’s game with injuries.
Ware Controls Point
Junior C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) will be the starting point guard for the Lady Chants to start the season. Ware was second on the team with 61 assists last season and added 35 steals. Ware started 26 of Coastal’s 28 games in 2005-06 and averaged 2.8 points per game.
Up Next
Coastal will take time off for the holidays and return to the court Sunday, Dec. 31, against Converse. The game starts at 2 p.m.
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