WBB Preview | Bucs hit the road for weekend series at Radford

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern is back in action this weekend as the Buccaneers continue their six-game road trip to wrap up the 2020-21 regular season. The Bucs will take taking on the Radford Highlanders in a two-game set starting on Friday, February 19 at 2 p.m. Saturday's finale will also tipoff at 2 p.m. Both games will be carried live on ESPN+.

Game One – Friday, February 19

Charleston Southern (6-14, 4-12 Big South) at Radford (5-10, 5-8 Big South)
2 p.m. * Radford, Va. * Dedmon Center
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+ | Audio

Game Two – Saturday, February 20

Charleston Southern (6-14, 4-12 Big South) at Radford (5-10, 5-8 Big South)
2 p.m. * Radford, Va. * Dedmon Center
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+ | Audio

Series History
Radford leads the all-time series over the Buccaneers, 56-18, dating back to the first matchup between the programs in the 1986-87 season. The Bucs' longest winning streak against the Highlanders dates back to the 2000-02 season when CSU ran off five consecutive wins and won eight of nine during the stretch. The Bucs have one win in the Applin coaching era, a 57-45 victory over the Highlanders, in the 2016-17 season.

Last Five Contests

Feb. 8, 2020 – Radford won 64-40
Jan. 4, 2020 – Radford won 72-35
Jan. 15, 2019 – Radford won 67-41
Feb. 10, 2018 – Radford won 74-57
Jan. 13, 2018 – Radford won 61-56

The Highlanders have been dominant inside the Dedmon Center over the series with Radford winning 30 of the 33 matchups between the two programs. The Bucs' last win on the road against the Highlanders came back in the 2009-10 season when CSU topped RU 84-78 on February 20, 2010. Since then, Radford has won each of the ensuing seven matchups between the two programs.

Radford swept the Bucs in both contests last season and enter the weekend on a seven-game winning streak in the series. The Highlanders took control of the first game early last season and took advantage of a dominant team performance inside the paint as Charleston Southern fell to the host Highlanders at the Dedmon Center, 72-35. RU 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.

In the rematch, CSU made a late fourth-quarter push, but Radford's early lead led to the Highlanders' 64-40 win inside the Buccaneer Field House. Tierra Steede scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to highlight CSU's efforts in the game, but a 19-point halftime lead led Radford to the double-digit win in the conference rematch.

Buccaneers unable to keep pace with the high-scoring Lancers this past weekend
Charleston Southern was unable to rally back from an early deficit on Friday evening at Willett Hall as the Buccaneers fell on the road in the Big South series opener to Longwood, 94-48. The Bucs struggled to connect throughout the contest as CSU shot just 25.4% from the floor and 22.2% from the three-point line in the loss. The Lancers connected at a 51.4% clip and hit 13-of-30 from behind the three-point line in securing the conference win. The Lancers jumped out to the 29-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and held a 29-point lead at the halftime break on their way to their third consecutive win in the series.

Saturday's rematch saw more of the same as the Buccaneers were unable to capitalize on Alyssia Faye's career day as the Buccaneers fell in the series finale at Longwood, 76-51. Longwood jumped out to the double-digit lead early in the contest and led by as many as 19 in the first half as the Lancers limited the Bucs to 32.1% shooting over the opening 20 minutes. CSU rallied in the second half behind Faye's 22-points, but were unable to close the gap in the Big South loss.

Radford falls in both ends of the series against High Point
The Radford women's basketball team took on High Point on Friday afternoon, falling to the Panthers 103-73. The Highlanders were paced by Tina Lindenfeld who tied her career-highs in points, field goals made, and three-point field goals made. High Point was able to mount an impressive 35-9 opening quarter on their way to building a 26-point halftime edge in the eventual 30-point win.

In Saturday's rematch, High Point again put up a 30-spot in the first quarter and built the 27-point lead at the break. The Highlanders made it interesting in the second half with Danielle Montelbano scoring 13 points, including a pair of three-pointers down the stretch, but Radford was unable to overcome the first-half margin in the loss.

The Highlanders do line up against Hampton Tuesday night in a COVID-based make-up contest. Radford was scheduled to play the series against the Pirates on January 4-5, but were unable to lineup against Hampton due to COVID cases within the Highlanders program.

This Weekend's Make-Up Dates
Charleston Southern and Radford's series was originally scheduled for January 9-10, but due to COVID cases within the Radford program at the time, the series was rescheduled for February 19-20. CSU has been one of the few teams within the Big South to escape having a COVID shutdown within the program this season, and even luckier in that only the one series was affected due to COVID concerns this season.

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 Radford is one of the Bucs' most extensive among current conference opponents as the two programs have lined up against each other 72 total times. This trails only CSU's history against Winthrop (85 career contests) among current Big South competition.

Campbell (5-39)
Gardner-Webb (6-18)
Hampton (4-3)
High Point (14-34)
Longwood (11-12)
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. Radford was picked second overall in the Big South preseason standings. The Highlanders also boast Second Team All-Conference selection Amele Ngwafang on the roster.

Current Standings
The teams enter the final three weeks of the 2020-21 regular season and most institutions have between 4-6 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 either Gardner-Webb or UNC Asheville for the tournament's first round currently scheduled to begin on March 9.

Big South Standings (Big South Record)

High Point (14-2)
Campbell (8-3)
Longwood (10-4)
Presbyterian (8-7)
UNC Asheville (6-6)
Gardner-Webb (6-6)
Hampton (4-6)
Radford (5-8)
Winthrop (5-10)
USC Upstate (5-11)
Charleston Southern (4-12)

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 11 of their last 12 games. CSU did salvage a series split at home against UNC Asheville for its fourth Big South win of the season.

CSU is 2-6 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 and Longwood.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Alyssia Faye (10.8)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (6.6)
Assists – Janaia Fargo (1.6)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.2)
Blocks – Makenna Winans (0.9)
Three-Pointers – Sharita Godfrey (1.6)

About the Highlanders
Radford possesses a 2-4 record inside the Dedmon Center this season with home wins over UNC Asheville and Presbyterian. The Highlanders were scheduled to play four of their five nonconference matchups on the road, but lost games to N.C. State, William & Mary, and Georgia due to COVID concerns.

Radford had won four of five games coming out of their COVID break, but since then the Highlanders have lost three in a row, including this past weekend's pair of losses to Winthrop.

Radford Leaders per game