CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Charleston Southern was unable to overcome an early first quarter run as the Buccaneers fell on the road to North Carolina on Friday night, 85-54.
 
UNC (3-0) utilized a 14-0 run midway through the first quarter to take a commanding 28-8 lead following the first 10 minutes of play. CSU (0-3) battled back behind double-digit scoring performances from both Sharita Godfrey and Carmella Walker, but were unable to overcome the early deficit in the loss.
 
Godfrey was back in double-digits for the Buccaneers on Friday night as the sophomore guard was 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-6 from the three-point line for a team-high 14 points. She added a team-high eight rebounds in 26 minutes. Walker added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and posted one of CSU's five steals in the game in the loss.
 
UNC's Taylor Koenen led all scorers with 16 points as the Tar Heels placed five players in double-digits in the scoring column in the win. Malu Tshitenge posted 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Shayla Bennett finished the game with 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go with six points in the win.
 
CSU falls to an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent for the second time this season after dropping the season opener on the road against Florida State back on November 5. The Bucs were unable to topple the Seminoles in the opener, 88-36.
 
Quarter Breakdowns
First Quarter – UNC 28, CSU 8
North Carolina jumped out to the early lead with a 10-0 run out of the gates highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Shayla Bennett and Madinah Muhammad. Godfrey put the Bucs on the board with her first three-pointer of the night at the 6:57 mark, but UNC went up by as many as 22 in the first quarter on their way to the double-digit lead at the break.
 
Second Quarter – UNC 51, CSU 25
CSU battled back to cut the UNC lead down to within 16 midway through the second quarter thanks to a brio of baskets in the paint. Tyra Wright, Kelsie Ruff, and Carmella Walker all connected on shots from close-range as CSU narrowed the UNC margin down to 36-20 with 5:34 remaining in the half. A Leah Church three-pointer ended the CSU stretch, while a Shayla Bennett triple put the Tar Heels ahead by 26 at the break.
 
Third Quarter – UNC 67, CSU 38
Sha'Mya Leigh was on the attack to start the third quarter for the Buccaneers as the freshman drove in for the layup and the and-1. Carmella Walker followed with a jumper as the Buccaneers nearly fought the Tar Heels to a stand-still in the third quarter. UNC went up by as many as 34 in the quarter following a Kennady Tucker jumper to put the score at 67-33. CSU ended the frame with the final five points as Asia Smith, Ahlea Myers, and Godfrey all chipped in to send the game into the fourth quarter on a CSU 5-0 run.
 
Fourth Quarter – UNC 85, CSU 54
Maya Richards was on the scoreboard for the Bucs with a trio of points to spark CSU's scoring in the final quarter with a three-point play at the 9:10 mark. She added a three-pointer at the 5:23 mark to cap a five-point stretch and cut the UNC lead down to 76-49. UNC continued to apply the pressure late on their way to closing out the contest.
 
Inside the Numbers

• CSU shot 35.6% from the field, 27.3% from the three-point line, and 60.0% from the free throw line in the loss.
• Five different Buccaneers hit three-pointers in the game to continue a trend this season of multiple players connecting from distance.
• UNC held the 57-36 rebounding advantage in the game and forced 15 turnovers, while coughing the ball up eight times.
• The Tar Heels shot 37.0% from the floor, 31.8% from the three-point line, and 57.9% from the free throw line.
• CSU posted 18 points in the paint and had 14 points off the bench paced by Richards' seven.

News & Notes

• CSU fell to 0-2 against ACC opponents this season.
• CSU Head Coach Fred Applin started his coaching career at UNC back in 1989-93.
• The Bucs fall to 0-2 on the road early in the 2019-20 season.
• CSU also falls to 0-1 on Friday nights on the early season.

Up Next
Charleston Southern takes an 11-day hiatus from game play before returning the Buc Dome on Tuesday, November 26, against Bethune-Cookman Tipoff between CSU and the Wildcats is set for 5 p.m.