Box Score
CONWAY, SC— Ashley Cox scored a career-high 16 points to help Winthrop earn its second straight victory with a 64-48 win over Coastal Carolina, Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference women's basketball action.
Cox paced a trio of Lady Eagles in double-figures as Dequesha McClanahan had 13 points and TaQuoia Hammick had 10 points to help Winthrop even its record to 11-11 on the year and improve to 4-5 in the league. Coastal Carolina falls to 8-14 overall and is now 2-8 in the Big South.
“We played really hard today” said head coach Bud Childers. “Our whole goal this week was to play hard and be fast up and down the floor. I thought that was the key today.”
With the Lady Eagles clinging to a 46-44 lead with 9:35 to go in the game after a three-point play from Kayla Cook, the defense got even better as Winthrop outscored the Chanticleers 18-4 the rest of the way. Winthrop held Coastal to 1-for-12 shooting and forced five turnovers down the stretch.
Mary Hathaway provided the most offense over the final nine minutes for Winthrop has she had seven points, including a three-point play for a seven point lead at the 8:15 mark. Hathaway hit a jumper at the foul line off an offensive rebound to push the lead to double-figures with just under four and half remaining.
Hammick, who missed most of the first half due to foul trouble, came out and established herself offensively as she score six of the team's first eight points of the second half. In addition to her 10 points, Hammick pulled down a team-best seven boards.
“One of our goals was to try to get the ball inside and make our contested shots and make our layups,” said Childers.
And get the ball inside the Lady Eagles did. Winthrop scored 40 of its 47 points from field goals in the paint. It is the second most points in the paint by the Lady Eagles this season with 44 versus Southern Wesleyan as the most.
Winthrop fell behind early, 8-5, as Sydnei Moss scored two buckets and Olivia Irick hit a triple. Winthrop failed to score for the next five minutes after Katie Fitzgerald's basket with 15:58 remaining made it 8-5. The good news was the Lady Eagles defense held strong and kept Coastal scoreless as well until Alexx Puckett went 1-for-2 at the foul line at the 10:54 mark for a 9-3 lead. At that point Winthrop went on a 13-0 run to go in front 18-9. The run started with Cox establishing herself on offense by scoring seven straight points for the Lady Eagles. The defense forced turnovers on the next two possessions that led to lay-ups on the other end for Winthrop.
Moss didn't allow the Lady Eagles to run away with the game as she knocked down three free throws to cut the lead to 22-18 with 4:44 left and then drilled a three on the next possession to pull within three points.
Winthrop outscored Coastal 5-2 to end the half and led 29-23 at the break. Winthrop shot 44 percent from the floor after opening the first half 2-for-12 from the field and proceeded to knocked down 10 of its next 15 shots.
Moss scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds in the first half, but finished the game with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead Coastal. She also had three steals.
McClanahan finished with five assists and three steals while Hathaway finished the game with nine points.
For the game, Winthrop held the Chanticleers to just 31 percent shooting and also scored 15 points off 18 turnovers. It is the third straight game Winthrop held its opponent under 50 points (Longwood 46 on Feb. 5 and Coastal Carolina on Jan. 31).
Winthrop will remain on the road as it heads to Lynchburg, VA to take on league-leading Liberty on Monday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Vines Center.
