WBB Preview | Bucs welcome Presbyterian to the Buc Dome for two-game set

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern welcomes the Presbyterian College Blue Hose to the Buccaneer Field House for a two-game set on January 4-5 as the Buccaneers host their Big South home opener this upcoming week. Tipoff for Monday's game is set for 7 p.m., while Tuesday's game time is slated to start at 6 p.m. Both games will be carried live on ESPN+.

Game One – Monday, January 4

Charleston Southern (4-2, 2-0 Big South) vs. Presbyterian (3-3, 2-2 Big South)
7 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Game Two – Tuesday, January 5

Charleston Southern (4-2, 2-0 Big South) vs. Presbyterian (3-3, 2-2 Big South)
6 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Presbyterian leads the all-time series against the Bucs, 15-13, dating back to the inaugural contest between the two teams in the 1980-81 season. PC swept the season matchup last year to break the .500 record between the two programs and the teams have been an even 3-3 over their last six matchups.

Last Five Contests

Feb. 15, 2020 – Presbyterian won 76-53
Jan. 28, 2020 – Presbyterian won 67-46
Feb. 2, 2019 – CSU won 63-55 (OT)
Mar. 3, 2018 – Presbyterian won 81-58
Jan. 30, 2018 – CSU won 64-61

Charleston Southern had won three of four against the Blue Hose heading into last season to even the all-time series back at 13-13. The Bucs' stretch snapped a 10-game losing streak to PC that spanned from March 5, 2012 – January 17, 2017. The Bucs were dominant early in the series, winning the inaugural matchup 54-43 back on January 3, 1981, on their way to winning 10 of the first 12 games in the series.

PC took both contests last season with the Blue Hose winning the opener thanks to an early double-digit point swing in the second quarter. CSU alum Tierra Steede posted a double-double in the matchup with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the opening loss. In the rematch at the Templeton Center in February, PC utilized the hot hand from behind the arc on their way to posting a 22-4 run in the eventual win.

Bucs on ESPN3
Charleston Southern will be back on the Big South's ESPN3 "Game of the Week" package this season as the conference office announced the schedule prior to the new year. The Bucs' home game against Presbyterian on February 20 was to be the conference's ESPN3 selection for the week with tipoff on the network set for 5 p.m. With the adjustment to the schedule, conversation is still in process of deciding if the CSU – Presbyterian game will remain on ESPN3.

In addition to the regular season contests, first round games of the 2021 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships will be carried on ESPN3 -- three games each for the men (March 2) and women (March 9). Quarterfinal coverage continues on ESPN3 with four men's games on March 4 and four women's contests on March 11. The Semifinal round for each will air on ESPN+ (men's – March 5, women's – March 12). ESPN will televise the Men's Championship game for the fifth consecutive year on Sunday, March 7. ESPN+ will carry the Women's Championship game on Sunday, March 14. Both championship games will be contested at the highest remaining seed.

Bucs – Gardner-Webb series shifted to January 9-10 inside the Buc Dome
The Big South Conference announced a shift to the women's basketball schedule on Saturday evening with games involving CSU, Gardner-Webb, Hampton, PC, Radford, and UNC Asheville all adjusted due to pauses within the Radford and Asheville programs for COVID-19 concerns.

Due to the changes, the Bucs series against Presbyterian was moved from February 19-20 to January 4-5, while CSU and Gardner-Webb push their rivalry back several days and will now play inside the Buccaneer Field House on January 9-10.

Buccaneers sweep Big South Weekly Awards
Charleston Southern's Sharita Godfrey and Makenna Winans swept the Big South Women's Basketball weekly awards as announced by the conference office. Godfrey claimed Player of the Week recognition for the first time in her collegiate career, while Winans' recognition as Freshman of the Week marked her first Big South accolade.

The duo carried the Buccaneers through their sweep over Hampton this past week as CSU claimed both contests against the Pirates as the HU Convention Center. Godfrey connected on the game-winning three-pointer among her team-high 15 points in the opener against the Pirates in CSU's 49-47 win.

Winans went 4-for-4 from the three-point line in the second contest and drilled the go-ahead three-pointer from the top of the key to give CSU a late 50-47 lead over the Pirates. Her 14 points were a career-high on the season and guided the Bucs to the 58-53 win over Hampton.

Buccaneers claim season sweep over Hampton to open Big South play
Sharita Godfrey hit the go-ahead three-pointer with five seconds left as Charleston Southern rallied past the host Hampton Pirates, 49-47, in the Big South Conference opener for both institutions. Following a late CSU timeout to advance the ball, Godfrey came off Alyssia Faye's screen and spotted up on the left wing for her third three-pointer of the game and secured the conference-opening win for the Bucs.

In Tuesday's rematch, the Bucs hit again from the three-point line as Makenna Winans connected on the go-ahead three-pointer, her fourth of the game, with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter to stake the Buccaneers to the 50-47 lead. From there, the Bucs hit six free throws over the final 44 seconds in holding off the Hampton comeback in the 58-53 win.

Presbyterian splits with Radford to move to 2-2 in conference play
Presbyterian took the opener against the Highlanders thanks to Tionna Carter's season-high 19 points and the Presbyterian College defense held Radford to 26 percent from the field as the Blue Hose snapped an eight-game losing streak to RU with a 62-51 win. Nyah Willis and Maleia Bracone each chipped in 12 points for PC, with Willis also notching 10 rebounds.

The Blue Hose were unable to complete the sweep however on New Year's Eve though as the Highlanders utilized a late 8-0 run to secure the 61-55 win. PC senior Jade Compton collected her first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the contest to pace the Blue Hose.

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.

Campbell (5-37)
Gardner-Webb (6-16)
Hampton (4-3)
High Point (14-32)
Longwood (11-10)
Presbyterian (13-15)
Radford (18-56)
UNC Asheville (31-39)
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. Presbyterian was selected eighth overall in the poll with junior guard Trinity Johnson earning preseason All-Conference second team accolades.

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 field goal percentage, while sitting second overall in three-point percentage on the season. Overall as a team, the Bucs are shooting 42.6% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 37.0% from behind the arc on the year.

Big South FG% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 39.5%
High Point – 39.5%
Campbell – 38.5%

Big South 3PT% Leaders

Campbell – 35.2%
Charleston Southern – 34.0%
High Point – 33.2%

About the Bucs
CSU utilized just its second starting lineup of the 2020-21 season in their previous contest against Hampton as Jamya Rogers joined the Bucs' starters in the second game against the Pirates. For the season, six different players have earned starting nods from head coach Fred Applin on the season.

The Bucs are coming off the season sweep over the Pirates that featured total team performances in both games. Five different players recorded double-digit scoring games over the two-game series, while Sharita Godfrey boasted an 11-rebound game in the second contest against Hampton. Overall, every single CSU player that saw the court scored in both games in the pair of wins.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Carmella Walker (11.0)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (7.0)
Assists – Janaia Fargo (2.4)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.8)
Blocks – Alyssia Faye (1.0)
Three-Pointers – Sharita Godfrey (1.5)

About the Blue Hose
Presbyterian had limited competition in the nonconference portion of the schedule with the Blue Hose having games against Kennesaw State, Furman, and Mercer all canceled over the first two weeks of the season. PC fell against Clemson, but rebounded with a win over ETSU on December 12 prior to entering Big South Conference play.

Currently, PC is in a three-way tie for fifth overall in the conference standings with Gardner-Webb and Longwood. PC is currently second in the Big South in a majority of defensive categories, including scoring defense (58.2), field goal defense (33.8%), rebounding defense (38.3), and steals (9.5).

Presbyterian Leaders per game

Scoring – Tionna Carter (12.7)
Rebounding – Tionna Carter (9.0)
Assists – Trinity Johnson (3.2)
Steals – Maleia Bracone (1.9)
Blocks – Tionna Carter (0.9)
Three-Pointers – Tess Santos/Maleia Bracone (0.9)

Upcoming Schedule
The Bucs continue the 2020-21 season with eight of the next 10 games at home. The Bucs will host Gardner-Webb (Jan. 9-10), UNC Asheville (Jan. 15-16) and Campbell (Jan. 22-23) to highlight the early portion of their January schedule. CSU will travel to Winthrop to close out the month, before returning home to welcome High Point on February 5-6.