CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina used a 13-2 run in the third quarter to notch a 73-55 win over visiting Georgia Southern on Thursday evening at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C.
The Chanticleers improved to 8-15 overall and 2-8 in the Sun Belt with the win, while Georgia Southern fell to 13-9 overall and 3-7 in the league with their sixth straight loss. It also ends a three-game win streak for the Eagles against the Chanticleers.
Coastal Carolina built a 21-14 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 10-for-13 performance at the free throw line. The Eagles rallied in the second quarter, holding CCU scoreless for the first seven minutes of the period to take a 24-21 lead. But the Chanticleers ended the half on a 10-1 run to reclaim the lead at the break, 31-25.
A three-pointer from Constance Thomas at the 5:58 mark of the third quarter brought the Eagles to within four, but the Chanticleers embarked on a 13-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to extend the lead to 14, 48-34, and never looked back afterwards.
Terren Ward led the Eagles with 24 points on the night, while Thomas added 11 points. Four Chanticleers reached double figures on the night, led by Makaila Cange's 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
Eagle of the Game
Thomas notched her third double digit game of the season with her 11 points. She also added three rebounds, two steals and her first career blocked shot as an Eagle.
Stat of the Game
Georgia Southern hit 20-of-70 shots from the floor for 28.6 percent. The Eagles fell to 0-7 this season when shooting under 35 percent from the floor.
Quotables
Head Coach Anita Howard on tonight's game the against the Chanticleers
"I thought we didn't do a good job on the road and we allowed things out of our control to get inside of our head. We weren't able to knock down shots. When we make shots, we usually play better defense, so we didn't defend like we needed to. We've got to figure it out and I think we will. Coastal was in desperate need of a win and they played like it tonight. We still have some work to be done."
Next Up
The Eagles visit Georgia State for a 1 p.m. Sun Belt Conference contest on Saturday in Atlanta.