CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Charleston Southern's fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short as the Buccaneers fell to host Western Carolina on the road on Wednesday night, 69-64.
 
Trailing 55-43 heading into the final quarter of play, the Buccaneers (0-6) mounted a furious rally late in the contest behind a stifling full-court pressure defense. Trailing 65-53 with 4:24 remaining, the CSU went on an 11-4 run late highlighted by a stretch of five WCU (2-8) turnovers.
 
Kelsie Ruff and Sharita Godfrey both contributed baskets late down the stretch with Godfrey's three-pointer cutting the WCU lead down to 69-64 with 19 seconds to play. However, that was all CSU was able to muster as the Bucs were unable to pull off the comeback attempt inside the Ramsey Center.
 
Ruff eclipsed her career-high scoring mark for the second consecutive game as the junior guard recorded 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting, while adding six rebounds. Godfrey was also in double-digits with 12 points and added five steals, while Sha'Mya Leigh added 11 points and six assists in the loss.
 
WCU's Lauren LaPlant led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including a 4-of-8 mark from behind the three-point line. Jewel Smalls recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 20 rebounds, while Tembre Moates finished with 12 points and a pair of blocked shots.
 
First Quarter – Western Carolina 24, Charleston Southern 17
The Catamounts connected on four three-pointers to highlight a back-and-forth first quarter that features strong shooting on both sides. The Bucs shot 50.0% from the field over the first quarter paced by Ruff's five points as CSU rallied from an early deficit to tie the game up at 12-12 with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter. The Catamounts scored the final five points of the quarter with Andrea Martin Ruiz's three-pointer putting WCU ahead by seven points heading into the quarter break.
 
Second Quarter – Western Carolina 36, Charleston Southern 30
After a nearly two-minute scoreless spell to start the second quarter, WCU's LaPlant stretch the Catamounts lead to nine at 26-17 with 8:17 remaining in the quarter. Six different Buccaneers scored over the 10-minute period with Asia Smith's layup at the 6:06 mark cutting the WCU lead down to 26-25 and capped an 8-0 CSU scoring run. Smalls put the Catamounts back ahead by eight with 2:49 remaining in the half with a three-pointer, but Ahlea Myers had the final points of the period for CSU with a jumper with five seconds remaining to provide the six-point margin at the half.
 
Third Quarter – Western Carolina 55, Charleston Southern 43
The Catamounts scored the first six points of the second half to build a 12-point lead following LaPlant's layup at the 7:14 mark. CSU fought to keep the margin within single digits with Godfrey and Myers drilling back-to-back three-pointers to put the score at 46-38 with 5:06 remaining. Smalls converted a pair of late free throws to keep the WCU advantage at 12 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter – Western Carolina 69, Charleston Southern 64
Western Carolina built its largest lead of the night at 15 points on two separate occasions, with the last coming at the 7:28 mark on Jada Miller's jumper in the paint to put the score at 60-45. The Bucs started their comeback with a six-point stretch as Godfrey, Leigh, and Ruff all connecting on baskets to cut the WCU lead down to nine. WCU's lead hit 12 at 65-53 following a Moates layup, before the CSU defense started to take over. The Bucs forced nine turnovers in the fourth quarter with five coming late in the period, but it was not enough for CSU to complete the comeback in the loss.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Charleston Southern shot 41.5% (27-of-65) from the floor, 31.6% (6-of-19) from the three-point line, and 4-of-11 (36.4%) from the free throw line in the loss.
• Western Carolina was 49.1% (26-of-53) from the floor, 40.9% (9-of-22) from behind the arc, and 66.7% (8-of-12) from the free throw line in the win.
• CSU held the 20-18 advantage on points off turnovers, while also posting the 14-5 edge in points off the bench.
• The two teams were even in points in the paint at 28-28.
• WCU held the edge in second chance points at 19-11 thanks to 13 offensive rebounds.
• The Buccaneers forced 26 turnovers with 14 steals against the Catamounts.
• Western Carolina held the 42-26 edge in rebounding. 

News & Notes

• Kelsie Ruff eclipsed her career-high in points for the second consecutive game with 18 points in the loss to Western Carolina.
• Sharita Godfrey scored double-digits for the fourth time in the last five games as the sophomore wing put in 12 points.
• Sha'Mya Leigh was in double-digits for the second time early in her collegiate career and first time since S.C. State with 11 points.
• Leigh added a career-high six assists to mark her fifth consecutive game with multiple assists this season.
• The Bucs tied their season high with six three-pointers, equaling the mark set against both S.C. State and North Carolina
• The Bucs' 26 forced turnovers marked the second consecutive game CSU has forced an opponent to cough the ball up at least 20 times.
• CSU hit double-digits in steals for the third consecutive game and tied their season-high with 14 as a team on Wednesday night.
• The Bucs fall to 1-7 all-time against Western Carolina following the loss to the Catamounts.

Up Next
Charleston Southern is back home on Saturday, December 7, as the Buccaneers host the NCCAA Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons to start a doubleheader day in the Buccaneer Field House. Saturday will also double as CSU's Toys for Tots drive with fans receiving free admission to the game with the donation of a new toy at the doors. Tipoff between the Bucs and the Dragons is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.