CONWAY, S.C. –The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball team (7-2) moved to 5-0 on the year in Kimbel Arena as the Lady Chanticleers defeated Coker College (2-4) 92-44 Jan. 3 in Conway, S.C. Coastal now has its best start since the 1982-83 campaign.

Four points each from junior Alisha Dill (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) and senior Kim Turner (West Memphis, Ark./Hiwassee C.C.) put the Lady Chants up 8-2 at the 17:30 mark. The lead grew to double digits at 12:04 on a jumper from senior Jasmine Tyler (Jacksonville, Fla./Okaloosa C.C.) and went to 15 (25-10) at 8:01 on a layup from junior Calisha Yates (Columbus, Ind./Chattanooga State C.C.). Jumpers from sophomore Joanna Pekonen (Lappeenranta, Finland/Lafayette) and freshman Kairsten Nunn (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) in the last two minutes gave CCU a 40-21 lead and the Lady Chants went into the lockerroom up 40-23.

Yates led Coastal with nine first-half points, while Tyler had six points. Senior Demaria Young (Memphis, Tenn./Walters State C.C.) and sophomore C.J. Ware (Decatur, Ga./Lakeside) had four rebounds apiece. For Coker, Ashley White led all scorers with 15 points and had six rebounds. Coastal shot 42.5 percent in the first 20 minutes and had 15 steals.

Coastal had 52 points in the second half in its highest total output this season. A 17-3 run by the Lady Chants put them up 63-30 at the 12:06 mark. They then extended the lead to 41 (76-35) on a Nunn jumper. Coastal shot 59.5 percent from the field in the second stanza and had 27 rebounds.

Yates and Nunn had 13 points apiece, while senior Amber Rose (Bloomington Springs, Tenn./Upperman) added 12. It was a career high in points for Nunn. Turner was the fourth Lady Chant in double figures with 10 points. A night after having seven assists against Savannah State, Ware had six against the Cobras to go along with seven rebounds. Young matched that total and the two were joined by Pekonen with seven boards.

Coker was led by White, who had 15 points. India Elliot added 10 and Carolina Forest High School graduate Temeca Spain had a game-high 13 rebounds.

For the second straight game, Coastal shot 50 percent or better. The Lady Chants were 39-of-77 for 50.6 percent. Coastal outrebounded Coker 48-39 and forced the Cobras into 32 turnovers.

Coastal will host Converse College Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m., while the Cobras return home on Thursday, Jan. 5, to take on Barton College at 5:30 p.m.