CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern is back in action on Wednesday evening as the Buccaneers make the jaunt up to Cullowhee, N.C. and the Ramsey Center for a non-conference matchup against Western Carolina University. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Catamounts is set for 7 p.m.

CSU and Western Carolina renew their rivalry this season after a three-year hiatus. Western Carolina took the previous matchup back on December 30, 2016 with the Catamounts taking the 58-53 win over the Bucs in the Ramsey Center.

CSU picked up their lone win in the series back in 2015 when the Bucs took the 80-59 win over the Catamounts in the Buccaneer Field House. The Bucs rode a solid defensive effort in the last win over WCU with CSU forcing 22 turnovers and building the 19-3 advantage on points off turnovers in the game.

WCU has picked up six of the seven wins in the series against the Bucs dating back to the first matchup back in 1979. The Catamounts took the first three contests from 1979-81, before a 30-year gap between the matchups. The series began again in 2011 with WCU picking up wins in 2011, 2013, and 2016, while falling for the first time in the series in 2015.

Both sides have struggled early in the 2019-20 season with the Buccaneers falling in their first five contests so far, while the Catamounts have dropped eight of their first nine games.

CSU has faced off against a difficult schedule early in the season with four of the five teams they've lined up against boasting above .500 records this year. The Bucs 2019-20 opponents this season are a combined 25-10 at this point in the season with both Florida State (7-0), and North Carolina (6-0) posting undefeated marks so far. Two other teams sit among their conference leaders with Bethune-Cookman and North Dakota sitting among the leaders in the MEAC and the Summit League.

Western Carolina picked up their lone win of the 2019-20 season in the opener with a 64-55 win over Virginia Wise. Since then, WCU has dropped eight consecutive contests, including losses to Big South foes USC Upstate, Campbell, UNC Asheville, and Gardner-Webb. The Catamounts also dropped a 92-55 decision early in the year at North Carolina.

Sharita Godfrey has posted a breakout sophomore season early in 2019 for the Buccaneers as the Columbia, S.C. native sits among the conference's leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, blocked shots, and defensive rebounds. Godfrey's 10.8 points per game are tied with Carmella Walker for the team lead, while her 5.6 defensive rebounds per game sit second in the Big South behind Winthrop's Anika Riley (5.7).

Walker has been among the team leaders in several categories heading into this week's matchup. The New Smyrna Beach, Fla. native joined the Bucs by way of Daytona State College in the offseason and has brought an increased defensive presence to the squad while adding 10.8 points per game. She is currently fifth in the conference with 1.8 steals per game, while adding a team-leading 80.0% free throw percentage at the charity stripe.

Junior guard Kelsie Ruff adds a third dimension to the Bucs' offense as the Charlotte, N.C. native enters the week coming off the best game of her collegiate career. Ruff made her first start of the 2019-20 season and capitalized on the opportunity with a career-high 17 points in 38 minutes. She added six steals to the contest, while contributing two assists against North Dakota.

Western Carolina was selected eighth overall in the Southern Conference preseason coaches and media polls. The Catamounts received seven points in the coaches poll and 19 points in the media poll as announced back in early October.

The Catamounts have been paced by Jewel Smalls' 15.7 points and 11.7 points per game as the 5-7 guard has posted seven double-doubles on the year. Smalls also paces the Catamounts with 25 three-pointers made on the season with a 35.7% three-point percentage on the year. Lauren LaPlant boasts 21 three-pointers made and 8.1 points per game on the year.

Up Next
Charleston Southern returns home for a three-game homestand starting on Saturday, December 7, with a non-conference matchup against Virginia University of Lynchburg. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Dragons is set for 3 p.m.