CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern got the defensive stops it needed down the stretch and connected on 55 percent of its shots in the second half to clinch a 55-53 home victory Saturday over USC Upstate in Big South women's basketball action.

DEFENSIVE STOP AT FINAL BUZZER
After Fargo gave the Bucs the lead for good at 44-43 on a long-range jumper with 9:02 to play, it stayed a one-possession contest until Faye's second trifecta with 5:08 left stretched the margin to six, 53-47. The two teams traded baskets, and missed opportunities, over the next four minutes. With a tick under a minute remaining, at 59.9 seconds, CSU called timeout looking to expand on its 55-51 lead. A missed chance turned into a Molly Coleman layup for USC Upstate (11-5, 3-2 Big South) on the other end, cutting it to a two-point edge, 55-53.

Again, late-game timeouts by both sides played into the respective strategies. The Spartans forced a late Bucs miscue with under 10 seconds left, giving them one last offensive look. But Charleston Southern's defense denied Rachael Rose a solid glimpse at the basket, and although Coleman secured the offensive board, the horn sounded to secure the Buccaneers' victory.

A FIRST
The win is the first inside the Buc Dome for the Buccaneers this season under first-year head coach Clarisse Garcia. CSU led statistically in nearly every category on its way to the home triumph, its first in the building since Jan. 15, 2021, against UNC Asheville.

FARGO PLAYS FULL 40; LEADS OFFENSE
Guiding the offensive attack was a career-best tying 18 points from Janaia Fargo. The sophomore hit 6-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point arc, and 3-of-4 free throws to take game-high scoring honors and pace a trio of Buccaneers in double figures.

FAYE HEATS UP FROM DEEP
Post player Alyssia Faye showed versatility in her game, as she stepped outside the paint and drained a pair of 3-pointers, her most in a game during her two-year Bucs career, as part of her 10 points. She added seven boards and two blocked shots in an all-around solid performance.

LEIGH JOINS THE CROWD
The other member of the double-digit club was Sha'Mya Leigh, who poured in 10 points of her own after making three field goals and a team-high four charity tosses.

CLUTCH OFF THE BENCH
Freshman Madison Adamson provided Charleston Southern (2-16, 2-5 Big South) with a spark in her 27 minutes off the bench, stuffing the stat sheet for career highs in rebounds (nine), assists (six) and blocks (two) in addition to contributing five points and two steals. She did not miss on either field goal attempt and was 1-of-2 at the foul line.

THREES CARRY SECOND-HALF SHOOTING
The Bucs connected on 12-of-22 field goals (54.5 percent) after the halftime break, including 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from 3-point territory. Overall, CSU made 44.2 percent of its shots compared to USC Upstate's 34.5 percent.

UP NEXT
Charleston Southern will remain home for its next contest, a 6 p.m. Tuesday ESPN+ tip-off, against Radford.