Women's Basketball 11/23/2020 3:36:00 PM

WBB Preview | Bucs open 2020-21 season with home opener against Columbia International

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern opens up the 2020-21 season with a mid-afternoon contest on Wednesday, November 25, as the Buccaneers welcome Columbia International to the Buccaneer Field House. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Rams is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

Game Information

Charleston Southern (0-0) vs. Columbia International (3-3)
1 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Charleston Southern leads 2-0

Dec. 13, 2017 – CSU won 91-39
Nov. 24, 2015 – CSU won 67-35

About the Bucs
Charleston Southern returns nine players, including four starters from last season's squad as the Buccaneers look ahead to the 2020-21 season. Included in the mix are seniors Carmella Walker and Kelsie Ruff, as well as veterans Anna Webster, Sharita Godfrey, and Alyssia Faye. The Bucs also welcome back a strong sophomore class that each saw valuable experience and strong playing time last season with Sha'Mya Leigh, Tyra Wright, Asia Smith, and Tori Gittens all ready to get back onto the court for their second go-round in the Blue & Gold.

Walker returns as CSU's leading scorer from the 2019-20 season as the New Smyrna Beach, Fla., native returns after scoring double-digits in a team-leading 15 games last year. Ruff returns as a multifaceted player that saw career-highs in points and steals last season. Godfrey took on a major scoring role last season with the Columbia, S.C., native posting 11 double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 22 points against High Point in January. Webster and Faye are both fighting to get back to the court as Webster is coming off a season-ending injury, while Faye will make her debut this year after transferring from Wichita State.

Leigh finished second on the team with 26 starts on the year, while tying for the team lead with 60 assists. Wright took over as Bucs' primary rebounder down the stretch last season, while Smith was the lone Buccaneer to earn conference Freshman of the Week recognition on the year. Gittens was one of the team's primary outside scoring threats and finished as the team's leading three-point scorer on the year.

For the second consecutive season, the Buccaneers turned to the transfer portal to bolster the roster with veteran leadership and scoring. After welcoming Walker and Faye to the roster last season, the Bucs welcome to the floor this season Niya Goudelock (Limestone), Jhala Henry (Vincennes), and Jamya Rogers (Walters State) with the trio of transfers expected to see major playing time on the floor this year.

Goudelock is a year removed from when she last lined up at Limestone, but she finished among the team's scoring and defensive leaders on the court. The Gaffney, S.C., native averaged 7.2 points per game on 41.0% shooting, while leading the team with 56 steals on the year. Henry started 62 of 63 games at Vincennes and averaged 20.1 points per game with a team-high 112 steals over her sophomore year. She boasted at least two games scoring at least 30 points, while adding 18 contests where she scored at least 20 points. Rogers started 51 times at Walters State and averaged 13.8 points per game on 54.8% shooting in her sophomore season. She posted at least 20 points scoring in six different games, including back-to-back 23-point efforts in her final two contests.

The Bucs hit West Virginia hard in their recruiting in the 2019-20 season as CSU welcomed players from opposite sides of the Mountaineer State to the roster this year. The Bucs brought in guard Janaia Fargo (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman) and forward Makenna Winans (Parkersburg, W. Va./Parkersburg South) to bolster the roster this season and each brings an added dimension to the court this season.

Fargo was a three-time WV EPAC All-First Team selection and a two-time All-State honorable mention honoree with Musselman. She averaged double-digits scoring in each of her final three seasons with the Buccaneers and will be able to showcase her three-point shooting, as well as her speed on the court this season having also competed on the Musselman state champion hurdle relay team. Winans was a two-time All-State and All-Conference selection at Parkersburg South where she averaged 16.0 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots per game. She added three assists per game to her totals as the 6-0 freshman will provide an added inside-out bonus on the court for the Bucs this year.

About the Opponents
At the time of this writing, Columbia International enters the week with a 3-3 overall record after starting the 2020-21 season on November 3 with a home contest against Carolina University. The Rams have posted wins over Carolina, Bluefield, and Milligan on the season, while falling to Reinhardt, Columbia, and Point. CIU is scheduled to take on Montreat on Tuesday night prior to their Wednesday afternoon contest at the Buccaneer Field House.

Keniah Watkins (16.8 ppg, 21 assists) leads the Rams offensive efforts on the season as the junior guard leads three players averaging double-digit scoring in 2020-21. Jordin McQueen (13.8) and Zion Neat (11.0) are also averaging double-digit scoring on the season, while Tiona Walls (8.7) leads the team's rebounding efforts. Watkins also serves as the team's steals leader with 15 thefts on the year.

Head Coach Danielle Fleming took on the role back in March after coming to CIU by way of Southern Arkansas. The first-year head coach helped contribute to SAU's turnaround with the program going from a 3-25 record in 2018-19 to a 17-12 record in 2019-20. She also boasts a strong coaching resume at Licking Heights and The Wellington School in Ohio.

Upcoming Schedule
Charleston Southern takes on several familiar foes in nonconference play this season with Florida A&M, Columbia International, Florida, Davidson, and Western Carolina scheduled to play the Bucs in 2020-21.

CSU welcomes three of the five to the Buc Dome this season. Columbia International marks the season debut of the Buccaneers as CSU welcomes the Rams to Charleston on November 25th for the 2020-21 opener. The Bucs also host Western Carolina (Dec. 13) and Florida A&M (Dec. 16) to round out the non-conference home schedule this season.

The Bucs head to Florida to open the month of December as they travel to Gainesville, Fla., on Dec. 2. CSU heads to Davidson the following week on Dec. 9.