Brawl at Sun Belt Women's Tournament Leads to Ejections, Suspensions, and Injured Referee

Eight players were ejected and a referee was knocked to the ground during an altercation between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina players.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A brawl broke out during a Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament game between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina, leading to the ejection of eight players and an injured referee. Coastal Carolina forward Tracey Hueston has been suspended for the rest of the postseason, while three South Alabama players received one-game suspensions. The incident started when Hueston and South Alabama's Cordasia Harris appeared to bump into each other, leading to a physical altercation that resulted in the referee being knocked to the floor and requiring medical attention.

Why it matters

Incidents of violence and unsportsmanlike conduct in college sports can undermine the integrity of the game and the overall student-athlete experience. This brawl raises concerns about player behavior, officiating, and the ability of tournament organizers to maintain control and ensure the safety of players and staff.

The details

The brawl occurred with 5:39 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game, which South Alabama won 80-70. Hueston and Harris were both ejected, along with six other players from the two teams. Referee Marla Gearhar was knocked to the ground and required medical attention, though she was later released after being evaluated. The Sun Belt Conference announced the suspensions of Hueston, Harris, Sutton, and Gonzalez.

  • The incident occurred with 5:39 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game on March 5, 2026.
  • Coastal Carolina's Tracey Hueston was suspended for the rest of the postseason by the Sun Belt Conference.
  • South Alabama's Cordasia Harris, Amyah Sutton, and Daniela Gonzalez each received a one-game suspension from the Sun Belt Conference.

The players

Tracey Hueston

A forward for the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team who was suspended for the rest of the postseason by the Sun Belt Conference for her role in the brawl.

Cordasia Harris

A player for the South Alabama women's basketball team who was ejected from the game and received a one-game suspension from the Sun Belt Conference.

Marla Gearhar

The referee who was knocked to the ground during the brawl and required medical attention, though she was later released after being evaluated.

Amyah Sutton

A South Alabama player who was ejected from the game and received a one-game suspension from the Sun Belt Conference.

Daniela Gonzalez

A South Alabama player who was ejected from the game and received a one-game suspension from the Sun Belt Conference.

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What they’re saying

“It's unfortunate we had the incident with South Al today. I know Tracey Hueston regrets that. She's an incredible model citizen off the floor and she knows she can't act that way. That was extremely frustrating for everybody, certainly something we don't approve of in this program. It's nothing you want to see.”

— Kevin Pederson, Coastal Carolina Coach (latimes.com)

“After an extensive internal review, I do not believe the actions of all three of our student-athletes rose to the level of being classified as fighting as defined by the NCAA rule book. This judgment has negatively impacted the tournament experience of our suspended student-athletes and stripped them of limited opportunities to compete in the postseason.”

— Joel Erdmann, South Alabama Athletic Director (latimes.com)

What’s next

The Sun Belt Conference will review the incident further and determine if any additional disciplinary actions are warranted.

The takeaway

This brawl highlights the need for better sportsmanship and player conduct in college sports, as well as the importance of effective officiating and tournament organization to maintain control and ensure the safety of all participants.