DeLand, Fla. ? A 12-2 run late in the second half was not enough for the Stetson women's basketball team (1-3) to erase a 21-point deficit as the Hatters fell to visiting Coastal Carolina (3-0) Saturday afternoon at the Edmunds Center by a 51-41 margin.  Freshman guard Brittany Carannante (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater HS) scored a career-high 11 points for Stetson.

Down 45-24 with approximately nine minutes to play, Stetson used three steals and two layups by junior guard Sharnesha Smith (Kingsland, Ga.) to come within 11 points (47-36) with under four minutes remaining.  Devin Rivers struck back for the Chanticleers, however, with a basket with 2:50 to play that stretched the lead to 13.  Coastal Carolina was able to keep the Hatters at arm's length the rest of the way.

Both teams struggled with their shooting as the Hatters made just 17 of 54 field goal attempts (31.5%) and CCU was 17-47 (36.2%).  Strong free throw shooting was a key edge for the Chanticleers as they made 12 of 14 attempts (85.7%) in the game.

Coastal Carolina led 26-17 at the break after jumping out to an 8-0 run to begin the game.  Stetson then embarked on its strongest stretch of the game, a 13-2 streak that put it ahead 13-10 with just under six minutes remaining in a low-scoring first half.  Jessica Noll's three-pointer on the next possession would kick off an 11-0 CCU run to give the visitors the lead for good.

Carannante drilled a trio of three-pointers while the rest of her teammates combined to go 0 for 10 from beyond the arc.  She added four rebounds to tie her season high and added a steal and a block.  Smith finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals while junior forward Shayna Swinson (Atlanta, Ga.) notched six points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

C.J. Ware had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Chanticleers while Vicky Blanchard had nine points and six boards and Rivers came up with eight points and seven rebounds.

The Hatters hit the road for the first time this season on Tuesday, traveling to Tampa to face USF at 7 p.m.