The women’s college basketball court is usually a place for fast breaks, sharp shots, and loud sneakers squeaking like angry mice. But things went very wrong during a game involving the South Alabama Jaguars and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. What started as a regular women’s college basketball match turned into a chaotic action movie with no script.
It all began quietly. Two players, Cordasia Harris and Tracey Hueston, exchanged some words, nobody knows exactly what was said, maybe it was about defense, maybe it was about lunch plans, or maybe one player just didn’t like the other player’s shoes. The world may never know.
The conversation quickly turned ugly. Hueston reportedly tried to shove and swing at Harris. That was the moment when basketball etiquette took a long vacation. Players rushed in, coaches shouted, fans gasped like they had just seen their favorite TV character die in a season finale.
I’m in the thick of it here at the Big 12 Tournament, but was just sent this video of a fight erupting at South Alabama/Coastal Carolina.
Was told there were more than a handful of ejections after this. pic.twitter.com/mKyGaM0O0I
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) March 4, 2026
Then the referee got caught in the middle of the madness. In the chaos, the official was knocked out. Yes, knocked out by a player.
One teammate of Harris grabbed her to restrain her before she could retaliate. Another South Alabama player, along with a ref, got between the two.
A second referee also ran into the fray when Hueston swung again and struck them, knocking the official to the floor.
The ref was motionless for a moment as a South Alabama staffer and another official guarded the area around the injured referee to ensure no further damage could be inflicted.
Staff members and medical personnel rushed to the court to check on the official.
A double technical foul was handed out with Hueston and Harris ejected along with six other players who participated in the melee.
“Well, first of all, our program, we never want to be put in that situation and we never want to act out like that, so we don’t condone that, what happened today. It’s a very unfortunate situation for two talented basketball teams that have played in Pensacola in the tournament,” South Alabama coach Yolisha Jackson told reporters after the game, per The Athletic.
“With young people, sometimes emotions run high and as they go through their growth process and their maturity, sometimes things happen. But we always try to look at it as a lesson learned and make sure the next time that if we are put in a similar situation that we just respond a little differently and so that’s what we’ll talk about at the hotel tonight.”
According to Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Pederson, the incident was unfortunate and regrets whatever happened.
“She’s an incredible model citizen off the floor and she knows she can’t act that way,” he said. “That was extremely frustrating for everybody, certainly something we don’t approve of in this program. It’s nothing you want to see. You hate to see that in your last game.”
The players involved may face further punishment. Basketball is supposed to be about skill, teamwork, and strategy, not about proving who can swing faster during a heated argument.
Next time, maybe everyone should just shoot free throws and call it a peaceful day.
