Overview
- With 5:38 left in a second‑round game, an altercation between South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston escalated into a bench‑clearing brawl.
- Referee Marla Gearhart was knocked to the floor during the melee, received on‑site medical attention, and was evaluated and released, the Sun Belt said.
- Eight players were ejected, including Hueston and seven Jaguars; six South Alabama players were tossed for leaving the bench and making contact.
- The Sun Belt announced one‑game NCAA suspensions for Harris, Amyah Sutton and Daniela Gonzalez, and a one‑game NCAA suspension plus a postseason ban for Hueston.
- Shorthanded South Alabama beat Texas State 69-59 the next day to keep its run alive, as athletic director Joel Erdmann publicly disputed the league’s rulings on his three suspended players.