CONWAY, S.C. - Georgia Southern opened the second half on a 16-2 run to come away with an 81-75 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball victory over host Coastal Carolina on Thursday evening at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C.
The Eagles improved to 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt with the win, the first for Georgia Southern at the HTC Center since 2017. Coastal Carolina fell to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in the league with the loss.
Georgia Southern opened up the contest with a 9-7 advantage in the first three and a half minutes, but Coastal Carolina used a 10-0 run to take a 17-9 lead with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagles cut the Chanticleer advantage to two, 30-28, late in the second quarter but Coastal Carolina ended up taking a seven-point lead, 39-32, at halftime.
In the second half, Terren Ward knocked down a three-pointer on the opening possession, then Andreana Wrister nailed a pair of threes to spark the third-quarter run. Coastal Carolina cut the lead to four, 58-54, a minute into the fourth quarter, but a quick 7-0 run pushed the lead back to double digits and the Chanticleers never got closer than six the rest of the way.
Terren Ward finished the game with her fifth double-double of the year, registering 17 points and 10 rebounds. Ja'nya Love-Hill added 12 points and five assists, while Simone James and Le'Andrea Gillis chipped in 11 points each. Anaya Barney led Coastal Carolina with 22 points on 6-of-8 from three-point range, while Aja Blount added 20 points.
Eagle of the Game
Ward scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, while adding a career high-tying six assists and notching five steals. Her five double-doubles led the Sun Belt Conference.
Stats of the Game
Georgia Southern dominated the offensive glass against the Chanticleers, holding a 21-8 edge in offensive rebounds and a 21-2 edge in second chance points.
Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on first half vs. the second half on Thursday
"Coastal looked more like us and we looked like the more winded team. We just needed to knock off the rust and push the tempo. We missed a lot of shots we usually make in the first half. I was pleased with our second half effort. Coastal is not their record. [Coach Pederson] has them playing extremely hard. They're a scrappy team and I'm pleased to get out of here with the win."
Next Up
Georgia Southern finishes off the Sun Belt road trip on Saturday, traveling to Marshall to take on the Thundering Herd at 1 p.m. in Huntington, W. Va.
