WILMINGTON, N.C. – After having an early 10-point lead, Charleston erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit and finished the game on a 14-2 run over the last four and a half minutes to stun UNCW on Senior Day, 64-61, in women's basketball action in Trask Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, the largest crowd for a women's Coastal Athletic Association game in Wilmington in the last five years.

UNCW dropped to 12-14 on the season and 6-7 in the CAA, while Charleston improved to 17-6 and 8-4 in the league. Four Seahawks reached double-figures in the loss. Ali Zelaya recorded her eighth double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds and matched her season-highs with four assists and five blocks. Taylor Henderson and McCall King each tallied 12, and Kate Hollifield finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Seahawks jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but Charleston embarked on a 13-0 run over the next four and half minutes, forcing head coach Nicole Woods to call timeout with 3:27 left in the first quarter. After the quick timeout, UNCW trimmed the 10-point deficit to four heading into the second quarter.

Both teams combined for 13 turnovers in the opening quarter. UNCW shot 42% after the first 10 minutes and held Charleston to shooting 8-of-23 (35%) from the field and just 1-of-9 from three-point distance. Although, the Cougars built a significant 19-3 rebound advantage, including 13 offensive boards. Charleston also scored 14 points in the paint, holding UNCW to zero in the quarter.

After trailing by one midway through the second quarter, UNCW went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead, 31-24. The Seahawks entered the locker room with a 33-28 lead at halftime, outscoring Charleston 19-10 in the quarter, holding the Cougars to 4-of-15 from the field.

The Seahawks held Charleston to shooting 12-of-38 (32%) in the opening half and just 2-of-15 (13%) from three-point distance. The Cougars had a 28-15 edge in rebounds at the break, including a 16-4 edge in offensive boards. The Seahawks shot 13-of-28 (46%) in the first half, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. Zelaya led UNCW with 10 points at the half, while Hollifield had seven and King added six. UNCW's bench outscored Charleston's bench 18-0 after the first 20 minutes.

UNCW continued its offensive onslaught in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 14 at the first media timeout with five minutes left in the quarter, but the Cougars clawed back to make it an eight-point game entering the fourth. After the Cougars came within six early in the fourth, Evan Miller responded with a three-pointer for UNCW, followed by a Henderson basket to push the lead back into double figures with 8:10 to play. 

The Cougars stormed back and regained the lead, 62-61, with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws. Charleston finished the game on a 14-2 run over the last four and a half minutes to stun the Seahawks. Charleston outrebounded UNCW 53-29 in the contest, including 31-8 on the offensive glass.

UP NEXT

UNCW travels to Towson for a 1 p.m. game next Sunday. The Seahawks lead the all-time series, 25-19, but Towson has won nine of the last 10 meetings.