CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern takes the Big South and national spotlight on Saturday afternoon as the Buccaneers welcome Radford University to the CSU Field House for a conference matchup on ESPN3. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Highlanders is set for 3 p.m.

The Bucs (3-18, 1-11 Big South) fell in the first matchup against the Highlanders back on January 4 inside the Dedmon Center. Radford took control of the game early and took advantage of a dominant team performance inside the paint as Charleston Southern fell to the host Highlanders, 72-35.

The Highlanders built a 13-point lead in the first quarter and led by as many as 26 in the first half on their way to picking up their second Big South win of the season. The Bucs were paced by Kelsie Ruff, Carmella Walker, and Ahlea Myers' eight-point performances in the contest as CSU fell in their third conference game of the season.

Since then, CSU has struggled in Big South play, but does boast a key win over UNC Asheville (60-42, Jan. 14) in their first swing through conference play. The Bucs started their second swing through Big South play against Presbyterian on January 28 and have fallen in rematches against PC, Gardner-Webb, and this past Tuesday at Winthrop.

In the Tuesday night matchup at the WU Coliseum, it was a tale of two halves for Charleston Southern as the Buccaneers were unable to hold off a Winthrop second-half rally in falling to the host Eagles, 56-46.

CSU shot 42.9% (15-of-35) from the floor in the first half on their way to mounting a double-digit lead at the break. The Buccaneers relied heavily on their freshman in the early stages of the game with the first-year players scoring CSU's first 12 points of the game on their way to leading 17-9 after the first quarter.

The Eagles rallied back in the second half with a stifling defensive presence as Winthrop held the Bucs to just 12.1% shooting from the floor over the final 20 minutes in the comeback. Winthrop scored 14 of the final 17 points of the game on their way to taking the Big South win.

Kelsie Ruff recorded her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season with 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds in the loss to the Eagles. Sha'Mya Leigh added eight points off the bench, while Sharita Godfrey posted seven points and eight boards in the loss.

Radford (10-11, 8-4 Big South) enters Saturday's contest coming off back-to-back wins over Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb. The Highlanders sit in a three-way tie for second overall in the conference standings with Hampton and High Point.
In their latest game, Radford added yet another Big South Conference season series sweep to their name after defeating Gardner-Webb, 65-51. The Highlanders never trailed in the contest and scored in double digits each period, ending with 21 points in the fourth.

Sydney Nunley tacked on yet another impressive outing in true double-double fashion with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Aiden Rainford added 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Khiana Johnson chipped in six assists.

Each team boasts impressive statistical lines from key players heading into the Saturday afternoon contest.

CSU senior forward Tierra Steede paces the Bucs with 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while adding a team-high 18 blocked shots. Junior guard Carmella Walker is the lone Buccaneer to start all 21 games and is averaging 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds, while pacing CSU with 45 steals.

Sharita Godfrey is also among the CSU leaders with 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, while tying for the team lead with 21 three-pointers on the year. Tori Gittens has had the hot-hand for CSU over the last three games averaging just over eight points per game, while connecting on five three-pointers over the stretch.

On the Radford side, All-Conference center Sydney Nunley has come into her own over the last seven games with double-digit scoring appearances in six of the contests. All six games have been double-doubles for the redshirt senior, including a 25-point, 11-rebound game against Gardner-Webb on January 25. She is averaging 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while chipping in 21 blocked shots.

Khiana Johnson paces Radford's scoring efforts with 12.0 points per game, while adding a team-high 87 assists on the year. Makaila Wilson is the team's three-point threat with 33 on the year and she adds a team-high 22 steals to her totals.

Up Next
Charleston Southern remains at the Field House as the Buccaneers start the first of three consecutive Tuesday night home contests on February 11. CSU welcomes USC Upstate for a rematch of the December 28 conference opener between the two squads. Tipoff on ESPN+ between the Bucs and the Spartans is set for 7 p.m.