Atlanta, Ga (WBTW) — The Coastal Carolina women’s basketball team continued its hot streak and picked up its fourth straight win Saturday afternoon, defeating Georgia State 67-62 at GSU Sports Arena. DJ Williams, who had scored more than 20 points in each of Coastal’s previous three wins, continued her own scoring streak against the Panthers with a game high of 26.
Coastal (15-10, 7-7) has now won seven of its last eight games as the Chanticleers continue to fight for a top-six spot in the Sun Belt standings. Georgia State (15-11, 9-6) had previously won five of its last six games entering Saturday, but is now 1-2 in its past three outings.
The Chants led by eight points entering the fourth quarter, but had to contend with a surging GSU team that opened the final period with a 10-2 run to tie the game. Kaylin West ended that run with a 3-pointer, her lone basket of the game, but the Panthers eventually managed to take a one-point lead on a Walnatia Wright layup with 3:40 remaining. That would be the final points of the game for GSU, however, as the Chants ended their win with six straight points, all at the free-throw line.
Williams’ 26-point effort brings her career scoring total to 995 points, and she’s now poised to become the 16th Chanticleer in program history to reach 1,000 career points. The junior guard finished just 6-15 from the field against the Panthers, but was outstanding at the free throw line making 13 of 14 attempts. Williams also dished out six of Coastal’s 12 assists.
Naheria Hamilton added a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, her sixth of the season and first in the month of February. The junior center has now scored in double figures in each of her last three games.
Coastal out-worked Georgia State down low nearly all game, holding a 47-28 advantage in rebounds while scoring 38 of their points in the paint.
Allison Johnson led Georgia State with 19 points, and Wright finished with 12. Both players collected nine rebounds.
GSU had a better shooting day despite the loss, going 41 percent from the field and hitting nine 3-pointers. The Panthers managed just one point at the line, however, while Coastal converted 16 of its 20 free-throw attempts.
Coastal began pulling away late in the first quarter, finishing the final 2:30 of the frame with seven unanswered points. That run continued into the second quarter as the Chants scored the period’s first six points, part of a larger 10-3 run that gave Coastal a nine-point lead, its largest of the game.
Coastal held the advantage for the majority of the third quarter as the Chants and Panthers traded matching 9-0 runs. Coastal also scored six straight points to close the third quarter.
Coastal returns to Conway this week to play its final two home games of the regular season. The Chants welcome Louisiana to the HTC Center on Thursday and ULM on Saturday.
Coastal Defeats Georgia State, Wins Fourth Straight
