Today's contest did not start off well for the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern. After starting the game with a quick 4-1 advantage the Paladins would go on a 16-0 run to make the score 17-4. That lead of thirteen only eight minutes into the game would prove to be FU's largest lead of the afternoon.

The Bucs were sluggish offensively in the first half, but a pair of threes from Katie Tull in the final minutes of the first half kept the Bucs within shouting distance of the lead.

The first half ended with the Paladins of Furman ahead at a score of 38-27.

It was obvious that Furman was keying on the shutting down CSU from the perimeter, but senior guard Katie Tull was scoring for the Bucs in a different way. Tull was driving the ball to the basket for layups and getting to the line. Tull went 6-of-7 from the charity stripe on the day.

A half time adjustment by head coach Julie Goodenough to switch the Bucs defense to an extended 3-2 matchup zone on defense proved crucial for the Bucs to combat the Paladins size advantage while maintaining ball pressure and keeping hands in the passing lanes.

The Bucs also began to take advantage of their quickness off the dribble and drive to the basket, creating cutting lanes behind the penetration. This created point blank scoring chances as well as getting them to the line for several and-one opportunities.

The Bucs had fought back from being down 13 points earlier in the game, and a layup by LaKeitha Alston tied the score up at 70 apiece with just over two minutes to go.

A free throw from the Paladins gave them a one-point lead with a minute to play. The Bucs had possession of the ball with a minute to play and a chance to take the lead. However, the Bucs were called for a questionable three-second violation after driving the ball into the lane.

On the following possession CSU played good defense and got the rebound to have another chance with less than 20 seconds to play, but a charge foul was called on Lakeitha Alston after receiving a pass on a pick and roll on the elbow.

After a missed free throw Tull's half court prayer went unanswered.

Leading all scorers on the day was CSU senior Katie Tull who had 24 points in the losing effort.

The Bucs will be back in action next Saturday when they will face Pfieffer in Buccaneer Field house at 2 p.m. This will be the first game of a CSU double-header, as the CSU men will take the court against Milligan at 4:30 p.m.