CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern hits the road for the first time since late December as the Buccaneers travel to Rock Hill, S.C. and Winthrop University for a two-game series on January 29-30. Tipoff for Friday's game is set for 1 p.m., while Saturday's contest is also set for 1 p.m. Both games will be carried live on ESPN+.
Game One – Friday, January 29
- Charleston Southern (6-8, 4-6 Big South) at Winthrop (3-10, 2-8 Big South)
- 1 p.m. * Rock Hill, S.C. * Winthrop Coliseum
- Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+
Game Two – Saturday, January 30
- Charleston Southern (6-8, 4-6 Big South) at Winthrop (3-10, 2-8 Big South)
- 1 p.m. * Rock Hill, S.C. * Winthrop Coliseum
- Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+
Series History
Winthrop leads the all-time series 49-34 dating back to the team's first competition in 1977-78. The Bucs-Eagles series is the CSU's longest running conference matchup, predating CSU contests against UNC Asheville (1978-79), Campbell (1979-80), and USC Upstate (1979-80). The Bucs posted a five-game winning streak from 2015-2018, the second-longest CSU winning streak in the series, but Winthrop has won four of the last five matchups heading into this season.
Last Five Contests
- Feb. 4, 2020 – Winthrop won 56-46
- Jan. 25, 2020 – Winthrop won 58-53
- Mar. 6, 2019 – CSU won 67-57
- Jan. 8, 2019 – Winthrop won 57-52
- Feb. 27, 2018 – Winthrop won 62-56
The Eagles took both contests last season, including the opening 58-53 win inside the Buccaneer Field House.
Sharita Godfrey scored 14 of her team-high 16 points in the third quarter of the game, but Winthrop took advantage of a late stretch in the contest in pulling away for the five-point win.
In the rematch, Winthrop took advantage of another second-half stretch inside the Coliseum to hold off the hot-shooting Bucs. CSU shot 42.9% in the first half and held a double-digit lead over the Eagles at the break. However, Winthrop scored 14 of the final 17 points of the contest in taking the Big South win.
Buccaneers unable to overcome Camels in weekend sweep
Alyssia Faye scored a career-high 18 points on Friday evening to pace Charleston Southern as the Buccaneers fell at home to visiting Campbell, 57-35. Campbell utilized a strong defensive presence in the second half to limit the Buccaneers to just an 18.8% (3-of-16) shooting percentage in the second-half as CSU fell in the first matchup between the two programs.
In Saturday's rematch, Campbell jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and Charleston Southern was unable to make a dent in the Camels lead throughout the contest as the Buccaneers fell at home in the series finale, 66-51. Campbell jumped out to a 14-1 lead in the first quarter and led by as many as 26 in the contest on their way to closing out the series sweep over the Bucs. CSU was paced byÂ
Sharita Godfrey's 14 points, nine coming in the second half, as the Bucs rallied to close the gap late in the contest.
Winthrop splits conference series at Hampton
Anika Riley was the star in Winthrop's opening 51-42 loss at Hampton as the Eagles' star recorded her 697th career rebound to move into 10th all-time in the program's career record books. The Eagles held the 20-18 lead at the half, but Hampton shot 60.0% from the floor and 66.7% from the three-point line in a 25-12 third quarter on their way to taking the Big South win.
Riley paced the Eagles in the second game of the series with 12 points and seven rebounds in Winthrop's 63-53 win to even the series. The Eagles jumped out to a 22-9 lead in the first quarter and held off a late Hampton rally down the stretch with Maleeah Langstaff hitting five of six free throws over the final minute 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 Winthrop is the most extensive as compared to the other Big South schools. The Bucs and Eagles have faced off against each other 83 times, surpassing the next highest series matchups by 11 in Radford (72) and UNC Asheville (72).
- Campbell (5-39)
- 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. Winthrop was picked 11th overall in the same poll with the Eagles receiving 23 points.
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 40.7% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 35.7% from behind the arc on the year.
Big South FG% Leaders
- High Point – 41.0%
- Charleston Southern – 40.7%
- Campbell – 38.9%
Big South 3PT% Leaders
- Charleston Southern – 35.7%
- High Point – 34.1%
- Campbell – 33.0%
About the Bucs
The CSU starting lineup of
Janaia Fargo,
Tori Gittens,
Sharita Godfrey,
Makenna Winans, and
Alyssia Faye have lined up together on the court in each of the last three contests. The quintet is the sixth lineup configuration for the Buccaneers this season.
Faye and Godfrey both recorded double-digit scoring games this past weekend for the Bucs with Faye scoring a season-high 18 points in the opener against the Camels. Godfrey's 14 points in the second contest paced the Bucs in the loss.
CSU Leaders per game
About the Eagles
Winthrop posted an early nonconference win against South Carolina State prior to the start of conference play in mid-December. The Eagles have added conference wins over USC Upstate and Hampton, while falling in conference series to Campbell, High Point, and Longwood.
The Eagles currently sit last in the conference in scoring offense (53.1) and three-point percentage (24.7%), but lead the Big South in rebounding margin (+5.1). Winthrop is second in the conference in rebounding offense (40.1) and rebounding defense (35.0).
Winthrop Leaders per game
- Scoring – Myra Strickland (9.7)
- Rebounding – Sydney Hunter (6.7)
- Assists – Myra Strickland (2.0)
- Steals – Maleeah Langstaff (1.1)
- Blocks – Maleeah Langstaff (0.9)
- Three-Pointers – Madison Ervin (1.4)
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.
- Feb. 5-6 vs. High Point – 7 p.m., 6 p.m.
- Feb. 12-13 at Longwood – 6 p.m., 6 p.m.
- February 19-20 at Radford – TBA, TBA
- Feb. 26-27 at USC Upstate – 6 p.m., 4 p.m.
