Coastal Ladies D-Up on Savannah State

By: Matt Lincoln/WBTW News13 | SCNow
Published: January 16, 2008

The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (11-3) came close to breaking an NCAA record and allowed the second-fewest points by an opponent in school history in a 53-28 win over Savannah State (8-9). Coastal allowed only seven points in the second half, and allowed just two points in the first 16:52 of the second period.

Savannah State’s Ivy Smith hit a bucket at 19:42 of the second period, cutting the Coastal lead to 33-23. Savannah State would not score another point in the half until two Amber West free throws at 3:08. During that time, the Lady Chanticleers forced SSU into 16 turnovers while the Tigers were 0-for-13 from the field. Between Tigers baskets, Coastal scored 15 points and had as much as a 28-point lead for its fourth straight victory.

Sophomore Devin Rivers scored Coastal’s first four points of the game and a jumper from sophomore Lacey Lyons tied the game at six at 12:24. Sophomore Lori Whitaker gave Coastal a 9-6 lead on a three at 11:26. Savannah State came back and took a 13-11 lead at 8:18 on a three-point play from West, but Coastal would end the half on a 20-8 run. Rivers had a three-point play at 6:15, putting Coastal up 20-15. A layup from senior Vicky Blanchard at 4:28 put the Lady Chants up eight.

Sophomore Amanda Stull ended the half with two free throws for a 10-point halftime advantage.

Rivers and Lyons had nine points at the break, while Blanchard had 10 rebounds in the first half. For Savannah State, Ivy Smith had eight first-half points.

Coastal went 11-of-12 from the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes, while forcing the Tigers into 8-of-27 from the field.

Coastal shot 34.7 percent in the second half, as a Whitaker three at 11:39 gave CCU a 44-23 lead. Freshman Sydnei Moss hit a jumper at 6:44, while classmate Jessica Noll ended CCU’s scoring with a three with 48 seconds remaining.

Rivers had 13 points to lead the Chants. Blanchard had eight points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals. For Savannah State, Smith had 10 points, but committed 13 turnovers.

Coastal’s record for fewest points allowed in a game came in the 1982-83 season in a 67-23 win over Coker. The NCAA record for fewest points in a half is three, belonging to Savannah State in a loss to Florida State in 2003.

Coastal opens Big South play Saturday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., as the Lady Chanticleers host Radford.