BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Junior guard Kiera Gaines (Mechanicsville, Va.) and senior forward Roslyn Presley (Mechanicsville, Va.) ignited a 17-2 momentum-changing run in the second half to help Campbell knock off first-place Coastal Carolina, 75-68, on Saturday at Gore Arena/ John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. The Lady Camels celebrated their 1989 and 2000 tournament championship teams at halftime as a part of their Alumni Reunion.
Gaines tied a career-high with 26 points on 8-13 shooting overall, which included four three pointers, and filled up the scoresheet with 17 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Presley tallied 19 points for the Lady Camels (9-7, 4-3 Big South) and came one rebound shy of her second double-double of the campaign vs. Coastal Carolina (8-7, 4-2 Big South).
The Lady Camels out-scored the Chanticleers 52-37 in the second-half, hitting a season-high 17 of 27 (63.0 %) shots from the field and six three pointers. Gaines and Presley combined to registered 33 second-half points for Campbell.
Campbell began to find confidence in the second half when sophomore guard RaeChaun Edwards and junior guard D Janelle Brown (Oklahoma City, Okla.) hit back-to-back threes. A Presley lay in and foul at 13:04 put Campbell on top 44-43 with 13:05 left for the first time in the fame.
After the Chanticleers went ahead by seven, Presley began the final comeback with six points in a 90-second stretch to give Campbell a 54-52 lead with 8:23 to go. Nine-straight points (four free throws) by Gaines increased the advantage, 63-53, and cemented a momentum-changing 17-2 run with under five minutes left.
Coastal Carolina fought back to within five points three times, but the Lady Camels continued their hot shooting and had an answer. Edwards, who finished with nine points, and Gaines were a perfect 4-for-4 down the stretch from the charity stripe to close the game out.
The Lady Camels notched a 22-13 edge in second-half rebounds to finish the contest with a 41-39 advantage on the boards. The squad improved to 6-1 when it tallied 20 or more assists.
Transition baskets fueled the Campbell offense with 20 turnovers leading to 28 points. The Chanticleers turned 19 Lady Camel miscues into 19 points.
D Brown connected on two three-point field goals and scored 10 points, while eight points were added by senior forward Ashley James (Round Rock, Texas).
Five players for the Chanticleers hit double-figures with Angelica Henry leading the way with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Karsen Sims (12), Katelyn Conner (11), Alexx Puckett (10) and AJ Jordan (10) contributed to the offensive output.
The contest started off at a frantic pace with five ties and two lead changes over the first five minutes with Coastal Carolina holding a slight 10-9 advantage. The Chanticleers pulled away with a 7-0 run to go on top 23-16 lead at 6:51 left.
Coastal Carolina took a 31-23 lead into the break, but registered its largest advantage of the game, 29-19, on a jumper by Conner with 2:30 left.
Campbell shot 25.8 pct. in the frame, while the Chanticleers made 14-of-32 from the floor and held a 26-19 advantage on the boards.
The Lady Camels honored their 1989 Big South and 2000 Atlantic Sun (formerly TAAC) Tournament Champions. Players, coaches and managers from the teams were recognized at halftime.
Campbell travels to Gardner-Webb on Thursday for a special 11 a.m. tip in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Lady Camels next contest at Gore Arena is set for Jan. 23 against Winthrop at 7 p.m.
