Pensacola, Fla. – A Sun Belt Conference women’s basketball tournament game descended into chaos Wednesday as a brawl between players from South Alabama and Coastal Carolina resulted in eight ejections and left a referee injured. The incident, which occurred with 5:39 remaining in the fourth quarter of South Alabama’s 80-70 victory, has sparked suspensions and drawn criticism from both programs. The incident highlights the intense competition within college athletics and raises questions about player conduct and officiating.
The altercation began when South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris appeared to bump into Coastal Carolina forward Tracey Hueston from behind under the basket. Hueston responded by turning and swinging at Harris, quickly escalating into a physical confrontation. Multiple players from both teams rushed to intervene, and the situation rapidly spiraled out of control. The incident was captured on video and quickly circulated on social media, showing a chaotic scene of pushing, shoving, and swings.
Referee Marla Gearhar was inadvertently struck during the melee, falling to the court and requiring medical attention. She was evaluated at the Pensacola Bay Center and subsequently released, according to a statement from the conference. The Sun Belt Conference has taken swift action, suspending Hueston for the remainder of the postseason. South Alabama players Harris, Amyah Sutton, and Daniela Gonzalez each received a one-game suspension.
South Alabama and Coastal Carolina got into a fight in the Sun Belt Women’s Tournament and a ref got KNOCKED OUT 😳😴 https://t.co/cnfrRxQY9C
— The College Sports Company (@CollegeSportsCo) March 4, 2026
Conference Response and Player Suspensions
The Sun Belt Conference announced the suspensions on Tuesday, March 5, 2026, outlining the disciplinary measures taken in response to the on-court brawl. The conference statement detailed the specific penalties for each player involved, emphasizing the need to uphold standards of sportsmanship and conduct.
Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Pederson expressed regret over Hueston’s actions, stating, “It’s unfortunate we had the incident with South Al today. I know Tracey Hueston regrets that.” He further described Hueston as “an incredible model citizen off the floor and she knows she can’t act that way,” adding that the incident was “extremely frustrating for everybody.”
South Alabama’s Disagreement with Suspensions
South Alabama athletic director Joel Erdmann voiced disagreement with the one-game suspensions handed down to Harris, Sutton, and Gonzalez. In a statement released on March 4, 2026, Erdmann argued that an internal review determined the actions of the three players did not rise to the level of “fighting” as defined by NCAA rulebook standards. He stated the suspensions negatively impacted the players’ tournament experience and limited their opportunities to compete.
Despite his disagreement, Erdmann affirmed the university’s acceptance of the Sun Belt Conference’s decision and pledged support for coach Yolisha Jackson and the team as they prepare for their Thursday tournament game against Texas State.
Additional Players Ejected
Beyond the suspended players, six additional athletes were ejected from the game following the brawl: South Alabama’s Terren Coffil, Saneea Bevley, Princess Okafor Nweze, and Jeriyah Baines, along with two unidentified Coastal Carolina players. The ejections significantly impacted both teams’ rosters and strategies for the remainder of the tournament.
The incident prompted a wider discussion about the intensity of competition in college basketball and the responsibility of players and officials to maintain control during games. The Sun Belt Conference is expected to review its protocols for managing on-court altercations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
South Alabama advanced to the next round of the tournament despite the player ejections, winning the game 80-70. The team will face Texas State on Thursday, March 6, 2026, in a game that will undoubtedly be closely watched following the events of Wednesday’s contest.
The Sun Belt Conference has not announced any further investigations or penalties related to the incident beyond the player suspensions. Updates regarding the conference’s review of game management protocols are expected in the coming weeks.
If you or someone you know is struggling with anger management or conflict resolution, resources are available. You can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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