WBB Preview | Bucs close out eight-game homestand with series against Campbell

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern closes out an eight-game home stand this weekend as the Buccaneers welcome Campbell University for a two-game set at the Buccaneer Field House on January 22-23. Tipoff for Friday's game is set for 7 p.m., while Saturday's contest is set for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Both games will be carried live on ESPN+.

Game One – Friday, January 22

Charleston Southern (6-6, 4-4 Big South) at Campbell (8-5, 5-3 Big South)
7 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Game Two – Saturday, January 23

Charleston Southern (6-6, 4-4 Big South) at Campbell (8-5, 5-3 Big South)
6 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Campbell leads the all-time series over the Buccaneers, 37-5, thanks to a strong opening stretch in the series dating back to the 1979-80 season. Campbell won the first 26 contests in the series before the Bucs recorded their first win in the 2012 Big South Tournament with the 57-53 victory. CSU won four of six midway in the Fred Applin coaching era, but the Camels enter the contest on a five-game winning streak.

Last Five Contests

Feb. 25, 2020 – Campbell won 43-42
Jan. 21, 2020 – Campbell won 61-36
Mar. 15, 2019 – Campbell won 55-44
Feb. 19, 2019 – Campbell won 52-51
Jan. 10, 2019 – Campbell won 60-58

Three of the last five contests between the Bucs and the Camels have been decided by one possession, including last season's matchup inside the Buccaneer Field House on February 25, 2020. The Camels took advantage of late free throws with 1.3 seconds left to escape the Bucs' home with the 43-42 win.

CSU won three consecutive home games over the Camels with victories in the regular season contests in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In their last win over Campbell, the Bucs had four players in double-digits in the contest paced by alum Wekynye Dumorne leading the way with 15 points.

Buccaneers split regular season series with UNC Asheville
Charleston Southern took advantage of a late 6-0 run with less than four minutes left in the game to take advantage of a back-and-forth game in the Buccaneer Field House and Kelsie Ruff hit a pair of late free throws to help secure the Buccaneers' 67-63 win over UNC Asheville on Friday night. Sharita Godfrey posted her first double-double of the season in CSU's win with 13 points and 10 rebounds to pace four Buccaneers in double-digits scoring in the game.

In Saturday's contest, a late Charleston Southern comeback attempt fell short as the Buccaneers were unable to overcome the UNC Asheville second-half lead in the 65-58 loss. Trailing 52-38 with 6:48 remaining in the contest, CSU went on a 12-0 run sparked by a pair of Sharita Godfrey three-pointers to narrow the UNC Asheville lead down to two points, but the Bulldogs converted late free throws to secure the conference split.

Campbell escapes Presbyterian with pair of one-point wins
Shy Tuelle hit a layup as time expired to give Campbell a 62-61 win over Presbyterian College on Friday evening at the Templeton Center. The Camels jumped out to a 10-point lead early in the contest, but PC fought their way back into the game to retake the lead with 1.7 seconds remaining following a Trinity Johnson three-pointer. Tuelle put together her late-game heroics with the game-winning layup on a cut to the basket as time expired to secure the win.

Tuelle was again the hero in Saturday's game as she converted a free throw with 0.7 seconds remaining to put the Camels on top of the Blue Hose, 59-58. Campbell took advantage with a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Hose tied the contest up at 58-58 following a free throw from Jade Compton. Tuelle was fouled on a catch-and-shoot play and made one of two from the free throw line to secure the win.

Bucs against the Big South
No surprises when it comes to conference play for the Buccaneers as Charleston Southern has faced off with each Big South team on multiple occasions throughout the years. The inaugural matchup between the Bucs and a Big South opponent came back in the 1977-78 season when CSU fell to the Winthrop Eagles, 73-52.

As the newcomer to the group, the Bucs' history against Hampton is limited compared to the other Big South schools. The Bucs and Pirates have faced off against each other five times, while CSU's next smallest sample size versus opponents comes against USC Upstate (15 games played).

Campbell (5-37)
Gardner-Webb (6-18)
Hampton (4-3)
High Point (14-32)
Longwood (11-10)
Presbyterian (14-16)
Radford (18-56)
UNC Asheville (32-40)
USC Upstate (5-10)
Winthrop (34-39)

Charleston Southern was picked 10th overall in the conference's preseason poll as voted on by the coaches prior to the Big South Media Day. Campbell was picked as the preseason favorite receiving six first-place votes and 112 points. Taya Bolden, ShyAnne Tuelle, and Luana Serranho were all selected on the Big South All-Conference Second Team.

Make It Rain
Charleston Southern has been lights out on the offensive side of the ball this season as the Buccaneers lead the Big South Conference in three-point percentage, while sitting second overall in field goal percentage on the season. Overall as a team, the Bucs are shooting 41.0% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 38.4% from behind the arc on the year.

Big South FG% Leaders

High Point – 41.6%
Charleston Southern – 41.0%
Presbyterian – 38.4%

Big South 3PT% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 38.4%
High Point – 34.1%
Campbell – 33.0%

About the Bucs
CSU debuted its fifth and sixth starting lineups of the 2020-21 season this past weekend as Tori Gittens made her starting debut on Saturday afternoon against UNC Asheville. Gittens joined Sharita Godfrey, Alyssia Faye, Makenna Winans, and Janaia Fargo in the starting rotation with the Bucs shooting 39.0% from the floor and 31.3% from the three-point line.

Four Buccaneers scored in double-digits for the third consecutive game to close out the series against the Bulldogs, while Sharita Godfrey ran her three-point streak to 12 consecutive games.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Sharita Godfrey (11.4)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (6.7)
Assists – Janaia Fargo (2.2)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.3)
Blocks – Carmella Walker (0.6)
Three-Pointers – Sharita Godfrey (2.0)

About the Camels
Campbell started off the season winning three of five in nonconference play as the preseason Big South favorite topped UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, and South Carolina State. The Camels lost to North Carolina Central in double overtime, while also dropping a home contest to Charlotte.

In conference play, Campbell opened up with a sweep over Winthrop, before falling in both contests to current Big South leader High Point. The Camels split with the Lancers, before sweeping the Blue Hose this past weekend.

Campbell Leaders per game

Scoring – Taya Bolden (12.3)
Rebounding – Taya Bolden (8.9)
Assists – Tatyana Carver (2.2)
Steals – Shy Tuelle (1.7)
Blocks – Lauren McNamara-Clement (1.7)
Three-Pointers – Shy Tuelle (2.2)

Upcoming Schedule
The Bucs continue the 2020-21 season with six of the next eight games on the road. The Bucs also will need to reschedule their road series against Radford that was postponed earlier this season due to COVID concerns. The Bucs travel to Winthrop, Longwood, and USC Upstate, while hosting High Point on February 5-6 in their final regular season contests inside the Buccaneer Field House.