ROCK HILL, SC— Winthrop used a 9-0 run over a five minute span to build a 10-point lead and never looked back as it captured a 47-39 victory over Coastal Carolina, Monday evening in Big South Conference women’s basketball action.
After Coastal Carolina’s Amanda Stull came up with a steal, Olivia Irick hit a baseline jumper to pull within one point with 10:17 to go. Shanice Cole’s put back off a Kaitlyn Rubino lay-up sparked the run. Cole followed that up with a three-point play for a six-point lead. Jessica Fansler hit a tough jumper in the lane and then Mary Hathaway capped off the run with a nice short runner in the lane.
Devin Rivers hit one of two free throws to cut the lead back to single digits, but then Rubino drained a three from the wing off an inbounds for a 46-34 lead.
The Lady Eagles outscored the Chanticleers 13-6 over the final 10 minutes of the game. The 39 points tied for the fewest amount of points allowed by Winthrop all season and it’s the ninth straight game an opponent has been held under 60 points. The defense held Coastal Carolina to 15 percent shooting in the second half.
With the win Winthrop is 12-16 overall and 6-8 in the Big South. Coastal Carolina falls to 15-11 overall and 6-8 in the league. The Lady Eagles finish the season 10-3 at home and the 10 wins ties a school record for most home wins in a single season since the university became a member of the NCAA Division I level. The all-time record is 11 home wins and the 10 win mark was set in the 2007-08 season.
Winthrop led 26-23 at the break thanks to a Cole six-foot jumper in transition with six seconds to go after Coastal Carolina’s Katie Ahaus missed a jumper to take the lead.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early 11-5 lead thanks to a three-pointer by Fansler and four straight buckets from Cole. Coastal Carolina tied the game at 15-15 after Sydnei Moss drilled a three. Winthrop answered right back with a lay-in by Cole, but Moss came right back and hit another trey to give the Chanticleers an 18-17 lead. The lead increased to 20-17 after a jumper from the wing by Ahaus as the shot clock expired with 2:59 remaining in the half.
Winthrop worked its way back into the lead over the final three minutes, outscoring Coastal Carolina 7-3 behind two free throws by Kathi Ryska and another three from Fansler.
The first half stats were nearly identical as Winthrop shot 43 percent from the floor while the Chanticleers shot 41 percent. Winthrop had the advantage on the boards 13-11. The first half saw five lead changes and there were four ties.
Cole led all scorers with 19 points and hauled in six rebounds to go along with four assists, two blocks and three steals. Rubino finished with nine points, six boards and two steals. Fansler was 3-for-6 from the field and finished with eight points.
Moss finished with 12 points and four rebounds while Ahaus and Kendra Reynolds each scored eight. Reynolds also had eight rebounds and two steals.
Winthrop will start a two-game road trip to end the regular season on Friday, March 5 at 7 p.m. against UNC Ashevile. The Lady Eagles will then finish the regular season on Monday, March 8 in North Charleston, SC as they take on Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. Coastal Carolina returns home for the final two games of the season and will take on Gardner-Webb on Friday, March 5 at 7 p.m. followed by Presbyterian on Monday, March 8.
