Staff report

The Catawba women’s basketball team beat an NCAA Division I team for the first time in coach Angie Morton’s tenure on Wednesday.

The Indians won at Coastal Carolina, 63-58, behind 26 points by senior guard Bri Johnson. Junior post player Terri Rogers had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Catawba has played several exhibitions against Division I teams since Morton took charge in 2003 but never came away with a win. The Indians had come close to some upsets, but they’d never knocked off a D-I squad.

Catawba’s last win over a Division I opponent was a 60-54 victory over Winthrop in 1999.

Catawba was accurate from the foul line, shooting 16-for-18. Johnson made four straight free throws at the end to clinch victory. Johnson (10-for-10 at the foul line) made two clutch free throws with 21 seconds remaining to give the Indians a three-point lead and added two more free throws in the final seconds after getting a defensive rebound.

Serena Brown hit a key, go-ahead 3-pointer for the Indians with the score tied at 54-all.

Catawba shot 35.6 percent from the floor.

Coastal Carolina shot 34.4 percent and was 3-for-17 from 3-point range against Catawba’s zone defense.

Coastal came into the exhibition game with a 2-2 record while Catawba entered 4-2.

Reportedly, the game counts as an exhibition for Catawba, but a loss for Coastal Carolina.

Senior guard Ced Gibson led Coastal with 16 points. Rachael Gregory had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

CATAWBA (63)

Johnson 26, Rogers 19, Brown 8, Butler 5, Newbold 3, Franklin 2, Hodges.

COASTAL CAROLINA (58)

Gibson 16, Gregory 14, Miller 9, Robinson 8, Adams 5, D. Williams 4, J. Williams 2.

Catawba                  16  17  12  18 — 63

Coastal Carolina   17  12  14  15 — 58