CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern's women's basketball team hits the road this weekend as the Buccaneers continue Big South play with a road date against Radford University on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff inside the Dedmon Center is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Bucs (2-9, 0-2 Big South) enter the game looking to find their footing in conference play as the youthful CSU team continues to battle in the Big South. Featuring one of the youngest teams in the nation with five freshmen and two sophomores seeing significant playing time, the Bucs will be hoping their blend of youth and athleticism will help down the stretch as the team continues to develop.
CSU enters the weekend contest on a three-game skid after falling in their first two conference games, as well as a tough loss to local rival CofC prior to the Christmas break. The Bucs are coming off a difficult game against Gardner-Webb as CSU was unable to keep pace with the Runnin' Bulldogs in CSU's Big South home opener.
Gardner-Webb lived up to its mascot this past Tuesday as the Runnin' Bulldogs raced out to an 11-0 lead early in the contest, while their ability to control the paint and put in second-chance opportunities held off the Bucs late. CSU was paced by senior
Tierra Steede in the game as the forward posted her first collegiate double-double of her Buccaneer career with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while adding a career-high four blocked shots in the loss.
Steede has been a bright spot for the Bucs heading into conference play as the Marietta, Ga. native has scored double-digits in three of the last four games, including a career-high 24 points in her season debut against Columbia (S.C.). Her rebounding numbers have also trended up as she's picked up at least five rebounds in each of the last four games. Steede has also added another dimension to her game this season, hitting 40.0% of her three-point attempts on the year.
Junior guard
Carmella Walker has been one of the key veterans for the young Bucs this season as the junior college transfer is one of two CSU players to start all 11 games on the season. Walker has been a steady force offensively averaging 10.5 points per game with six double-digit scoring efforts, while also pacing CSU with 24 steals. Walker is also connecting at a 79.6% (39-of-49) clip from the free throw line to sit third in the Big South in the category.
Sophomore wing
Sharita Godfrey has also shined in her role this season as the second-year player is averaging 10.0 points. Godfrey's ability to pull up and hit the mid-range jumper has added another dimension to the CSU offense, while she is also sitting second on the Bucs with 6.0 rebounds per game and 21 steals.
Sha'Mya Leigh and
Tori Gittens are among the deep freshman class for the Bucs this season and have seen their contributions grow as the calendar turns to the 2020 year. Leigh continues to provide fast-break energy every time she steps on the court as the freshman guard joins Walker as the only two player to start all 11 games for CSU this season. Gittens has provided another deep-threat for CSU and is tied for the team lead with 10 three-pointers, including connecting on a career-high three in an 11-point performance against USC Upstate earlier this season.
The Bucs' trip to Radford marks the first of two games between the Big South foes this season. The Highlanders will return the trip on Saturday, February 8, with a showdown inside the Buccaneer Field House scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Highlanders (3-7, 1-0 Big South) played a tough non-conference slate as Radford made trips to Vanderbilt, Ohio State, and Alabama, while hosting No. 19 West Virginia inside the Dedmon Center. The difficult schedule highlights the expectations for the Radford squad as the Highlanders were picked first overall in the conference's preseason poll with 113 points and six first-place votes.
Radford picked up their first Big South win in the conference opener on New Year's Eve with a 54-42 win over Presbyterian inside the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders took advantage of a 21-point fourth quarter and strong performances from Khiana Johnson and Amele Ngwafang on their way to topping the visiting Blue Hose.
Redshirt senior center Sydney Nunley and Johnson were both honored on the Big South's preseason All-Conference team with Nunley (First Team) and Johnson (Second Team) both returning to reprise their roles on last season's Big South champion and NCAA tournament participant. The duo continue to lead the Highlanders in multiple statistical categories on the season.
Johnson paces the Highlanders with 11.3 points per game and 47 assists, while adding 10 steals from the guard position. Down low, Nunley is averaging 8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and has blocked a team-high 10 shots on the year, while shooting 51.6% from the field.
Sophomore Ngwafang has also made strides this season to add another player in the mix for the Highlanders as she sits third on the team with 8.3 points per game, while leading Radford with 7.3 rebounds per game.
The Highlanders lead the all-time series between the two teams with a 54-18 advantage dating back to the 1986-87 season. Radford has won the past five matchups between the two teams, with CSU's last win in the series coming at home back on January 21, 2017, with a 57-45 victory over the Highlanders.
Up Next
Charleston Southern remains on the road and is back in the Commonwealth on January 9 as the Buccaneers head to the Willis Center and Farmville, Va. for a Big South matchup at Longwood University. Tipoff between CSU and the Lancers is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
