Box Score (PDF)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Rachel Gregory's game-high 19 points and nine boards pushed Coastal Carolina to a 59-56 victory over the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team in a Big South Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon in Paul Porter Arena.

With the victory, Coastal moves to 6-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while Gardner-Webb drops to 7-6 and 1-2 in Big South action.

The loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs was just the second defeat in Paul Porter Arena this season and just the second win in Boiling Springs by the Chanticleers.

Alexus Hill paced the Gardner-Webb attack with 15 points including 12 in the second half, while Olivia Parker added 14 and nine boards. Tierra Huntsman and Candace Brown also were in double-figures for the Runnin' Bulldogs with 11 and 10 points respectively, while Yasmin Miller also added 16 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Chanticleers.

The Chanticleers went 16-of-27 from the free-throw line compared to just 10-of-19 for GWU, which is the first time this season that an opponent has attempted more free-throws than Gardner-Webb. Gregory came off the bench and scored 19 points, as the bench for the visitors totaled 26 points compared to just six for Gardner-Webb.

Both teams continued to trade baskets in the opening quarter as neither team was able to jump out to a significant lead. Gardner-Webb held a 9-6 lead on Parker's layup with just over four minutes to go and the Runnin' Bulldogs led 11-10 after 10 minutes of action.

The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to hold the lead two minutes into the second period before Gregory's layup gave Coastal a one point lead, which they would hold until 54 seconds left in the half when Mariah Reid casedh in two free-throws to send GWU to a 25-24 lead at halftime.

Coastal scored six points off of GWU's turnovers in the third period and Coastal jumped out to its largest lead 41-37 with 32 seconds remaining, but an old fashioned three-point play by Parker cut the deficit to one heading into the final quarter.

The lead would continue to change hands early on in the final quarter, but after Gregory's jumper at the 7:23 mark gave the lead back to Coastal, the Chanticleers scored back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to give with 5:13 left in regulation.

Hill's layup tied the game at 55 for Gardner-Webb, but once again Gregory gave the lead back to Coastal and two late free-throws by Nicole Isaacs sealed the victory for Coastal Carolina.

Gardner-Webb returns to action Monday, when it travels to Buies Creek to face Campbell at 7:00 p.m.