JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and a decisive disparity in points off turnovers, the Arkansas State women’s basketball team outlasted Coastal Carolina 78-70 in a Sun Belt Conference matchup on Wednesday night at Convocation Center.

The 20th-ranked Red Wolves, now 20-4 overall, leveraged a season-high 21 steals to force 31 Coastal Carolina turnovers, converting those miscues into 36 points. That overwhelming advantage proved to be the difference, offsetting a subpar 30.2% shooting performance from the field for Arkansas State. Coastal Carolina fell to 11-13 with the loss.

Arkansas State guard Crislyn Rose, a sophomore from Sachse, Texas, led all scorers with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, and added three steals. Her backcourt partner, Mimi McCollister of Athens, Texas, was instrumental down the stretch, scoring 12 points and dishing out four assists while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 27 seconds to seal the victory.

Coastal Carolina was carried by the standout performance of Tessa Grady, who poured in 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including four 3-pointers, and added two blocks in 37 minutes. Olivia Klanac provided a spark off the bench with 14 points for the Chanticleers.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded late in the fourth quarter with Arkansas State clinging to a 71-68 lead. After a Coastal Carolina turnover, the Red Wolves worked the shot clock before Rose drained a contested 3-pointer from the wing with 1:44 remaining, pushing the lead to six and effectively halting the Chanticleers’ final push. Coastal Carolina would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

The contest was a statistical anomaly. Despite making just 19 field goals to Coastal Carolina’s 23, Arkansas State attempted 29 free throws, making 24, compared to the Chanticleers’ 20 attempts. The Red Wolves also hoisted 44 3-pointers, connecting on 16, while dominating the points-off-turnovers category 36-22. Coastal Carolina held a commanding 24-6 advantage in points in the paint but could not overcome its ball-security issues.

The first half set the tone for the chaotic evening. Both teams combined for 31 turnovers before the break. Coastal Carolina led 14-11 midway through the opening quarter, but an Arkansas State lineup change ignited a 13-0 run. Reserves Aniyah Ruddock and D’Arrah Allen hit consecutive 3-pointers, part of a personal 8-point burst from Ruddock, a freshman from Pompano Beach, Florida, who finished with 14 points. The Red Wolves led 19-14 after one quarter and never trailed again, though the Chanticleers stayed within striking distance.

Coastal Carolina hung tough behind Grady and Klanac, cutting the deficit to 57-55 late in the third quarter. Kinsea Grimes of Mansfield, Texas, facilitated the offense with five assists and nine points for the Chanticleers. But every time they threatened, Arkansas State answered, usually via a steal and score or a critical 3-pointer. The Red Wolves’ depth was evident as their bench outscored Coastal Carolina’s 41-14.

Arkansas State’s Wynter Rogers of Little Rock anchored the defense with two blocks and two steals, while Tracey Hueston led Coastal Carolina’s interior defense with three blocks.

The announced attendance was 1,423.

Arkansas State will look to continue its winning ways on the road at Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Coastal Carolina travels to face Bowling Green, also on Saturday.