WBB Preview | Bucs back on the road for weekend series at Longwood

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern starts a six-game road trip to wrap up the 2020-21 regular season as the Buccaneers make the trek to Farmville, Va. and Longwood University for a two-game series against the Lancers this weekend. Tipoff for Friday's game is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start. Both games will be carried on ESPN+.

Game One – Friday, February 12

Charleston Southern (6-12, 4-10 Big South) at Longwood (9-8, 8-4 Big South)
7 p.m. * Farmville, Va. * Willett Hall
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Game Two – Saturday, February 13

Charleston Southern (6-12, 4-10 Big South) at Longwood (9-8, 8-4 Big South)
7 p.m. * Farmville, Va. * Willett Hall
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Charleston Southern leads the all-time series over the Lancers, 11-10, dating back to the first matchup between the programs in the 2005-06 season. The Bucs' longest winning streak in the series was a 10-game stretch running from 2015-2019. However, CSU's winning streak was snapped last season as the Lancers swept the regular season contests against the Bucs starting with an 84-64 win inside Willett Hall on January 9, 2020.

Last Five Contests

Mar. 7, 2020 – Longwood won 63-52
Jan. 9, 2020 – Longwood won 84-64
Mar. 9, 2019 – Charleston Southern won 79-67
Jan. 12, 2019 – Charleston Southern won 81-74
Mar. 8, 2018 – Charleston Southern won 72-62

CSU has been more successful on the road than at home in the series with the Buccaneers winning five of their nine games inside Willett Hall. This included a five-game winning streak from 2015-2019 and also included a pair of neutral site victories in the stretch.

Last season in the opener between the programs, Longwood jumped out to the lead thanks to five first-quarter three-pointers on their way to building the double-digit lead. The Lancers held off a Bucs' charge paced by Carmella Walker's 16-points in the 84-64 conference win.

CSU alum Tierra Steede paced the Bucs in the rematch with a double-double on Senior Day, but the Lancers took advantage of a balanced attack to secure the 63-52 win. Longwood recorded 38 points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers in the win.

Buccaneers unable to keep pace with the high-scoring Panthers this past weekend
Charleston Southern was unable to keep pace with High Point's three-point shooting on Friday night in the Buccaneer Field House as CSU fell to the visiting Panthers, 88-65. The Panthers connected on 12-of-30 from behind the arc on their way to building a 49-25 halftime lead. The Buccaneers steadily attempted to chip away at the deficit throughout the second half, but their comeback attempt fell short in the Big South loss despite Alyssia Faye's 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Charleston Southern was unable to withstand a strong first half push from visiting High Point on Saturday night as the Buccaneers fell in the series finale on Senior Day, 71-54. The Panthers were 11-of-32 from behind the three-point line in the contest to offset strong performances from Sha'Mya Leigh (18 points), Carmella Walker (10 points) and Makenna Winans (13 rebounds) in the CSU loss.

Longwood comes off COVID bye after split with Presbyterian
The Lancers haven't played since the end of January as Longwood will end a nearly two-week hiatus this weekend against the Bucs. Longwood was supposed to line up against Hampton, and then Gardner-Webb, but COVID cases within both programs forced the bye week for the Lancers.

In their last action prior to the break, the Lancers rallied with a huge fourth quarter to surge past Presbyterian, 73-66 on Friday night in Willett Hall. Trailing 54-41 with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter, the Lancers offense got red hot, opening up a 23-8 run over the next 9:12 to take their first lead of the second half on Tra'Dayja Smith's clutch three, 64-62. Longwood's defense, who held the Blue Hose to just .364 (24-66) shooting while forcing 18 turnovers, closed the game by holding Presbyterian to just 1-of-5 shooting in the final three minutes, keying the Lancer win.

The Blue Hose took the rematch between the two programs and overcame a record-setting performance from Akila Smith in the win. Powered by 17 points from Maleia Bracone, five double-digit scorers and a runaway fourth quarter, Presbyterian spoiled the record-breaking night for Longwood's do-it-all junior forward and dealt the Lancers a 77-56 loss in Willett Hall. Smith entered the game in need of just one block to break the record and recorded four for good measure, including three in a row in a span of five seconds in the third quarter. However, the 5-11 forward fouled out with 6:33 to play and Longwood trailing 52-49, and Presbyterian took advantage of her absence with a game-ending 25-7 run.

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.

CSU's history against Longwood is not as extensive as some in the conference as the Bucs and Lancers did not start their inaugural matchup until the 2005-06 season. The Lancers are the lone conference program the Bucs have a winning record against with CSU sitting one-game above .500 in the all-time results.

Campbell (5-39)
Gardner-Webb (6-18)
Hampton (4-3)
High Point (14-34)
Longwood (11-10)
Presbyterian (14-16)
Radford (18-56)
UNC Asheville (32-40)
USC Upstate (5-10)
Winthrop (34-41)

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. Longwood was picked sixth overall in the Big South preseason standings. The Lancers also boast First Team All-Conference selection Kyla McMakin on the roster.

Current Standings
The teams enter the final month of the 2020-21 regular season and most institutions have between 6-8 Big South games remaining on their schedule. If the season were to end today, the Bucs would be the No. 11 seed and would be traveling to No. 6 Gardner-Webb for the tournament's first round currently scheduled to begin on March 9.

Big South Standings (Big South Record)

High Point (12-2)
Campbell (8-3)
Longwood (8-4)
Presbyterian (8-7)
UNC Asheville (6-6)
Gardner-Webb (5-6)
Radford (5-6)
Hampton (4-6)
Winthrop (5-6)
USC Upstate (5-11)
Charleston Southern (4-10)

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 39.9% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 34.8% from behind the arc on the year.

Big South FG% Leaders

High Point – 41.0%
Charleston Southern – 39.9%
Campbell, 39.5%

Big South 3PT% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 34.8%
Campbell – 34.7%
High Point – 34.5%

About the Bucs
Charleston Southern started off Big South Conference play strong with the Bucs sweeping the opening series on the road against Hampton, before returning to the Field House to take one of two from Presbyterian. Since then, CSU has struggled to hit their stride with losses in nine of their last 10 games. CSU did salvage a series split at home against UNC Asheville for its fourth Big South win of the season.

CSU is 2-4 record away from home this season with both wins coming in the conference opening series against Hampton. The Bucs' road losses came at Florida, at Davidson, and in both games of the conference series against Winthrop.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Carmella Walker (10.5)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (6.6)
Assists – Janaia Fargo (1.7)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.3)
Blocks – Makenna Winans (0.9)
Three-Pointers – Sharita Godfrey (1.8)

About the Lancers
Longwood boasts an impressive 8-3 record at home inside Willett Hall with seven of their eight wins coming in conference play. The Lancers swept Radford, topped Howard, swept USC Upstate, swept Winthrop, and split with Presbyterian to mark their record at home this season.

The Lancers boast several of the top players in the conference with Kyla McMakin (18.1 points - 2nd) and Akila Smith (57.3% FG - 1st, 10.6 rebounds – 1st) sitting among the Big South leaders in both scoring and rebounding. Smith is also the Big South leader in blocked shots (3.8) in 2020-21.

Longwood Leaders per game