WBB Preview | Bucs welcome Catamounts for Sunday afternoon bash in the Buc Dome

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern is back at home this weekend as the Buccaneers welcome the Catamounts of Western Carolina University to the Buccaneer Field House on Sunday, December 13. Tipoff between the Bucs and WCU is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.

Game Information

Charleston Southern (1-2) vs. Western Carolina (1-3)
3 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Western Carolina has recorded wins in nine of the 10 all-time matchups between the Bucs and the Catamounts dating back to the first contest played in the 1978-79 season. The Catamounts took the inaugural contest between the two teams with a 73-63 win in CSU's third full season as a program.

Last Five Contests

Dec. 4, 2019 – WCU won 69-64
Dec. 30, 2016 – WCU won 58-53 (OT)
Dec. 22, 2015 – CSU won 80-59
Dec. 16, 2013 – WCU won 56-47
Nov. 14, 2011 – WCU won 69-65

Head Coach Fred Applin guided the Bucs to their lone win in the series back in 2015 behind a 22-point performance from Alyssa Mann and a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double from Monique Maximilian. Last season, the Catamounts held off a late CSU comeback attempt as the Bucs' fourth-quarter rally fell short despite Kelsie Ruff's career-high 18 points.

Bucs unable to keep pace in midweek loss to Davidson
Carmella Walker and Sha'Mya Leigh paced Charleston Southern with 14 points apiece as the Buccaneers fell on the road to host Davidson University on Wednesday afternoon, 85-56.

Walker did a majority of her damage in the first half, while Leigh sparked CSU's (1-2) second-half comeback attempt as the Buccaneers shot a season-high 50.0% (10-of-20) from behind the three-point line in the loss. Alyssia Faye added a team-high 10 rebounds in the loss.

The Bucs shot 32.0% (16-of-50) from the floor in the loss, but were dominant from behind the three-point line. CSU combined to shoot a season-best 50.0% (10-of-20) from the floor from behind the arc in the loss, thanks to a trio of three's from Sha'Mya Leigh, while Walker and Tori Gittens both converted a pair.

Kiley Hill earns 300th career win as Catamounts top Newberry
Western Carolina women's basketball head coach Kiley Hill earned his 300th career victory as the Catamounts defeated Newberry 63-44 Wednesday, in the Ramsey Center, in the team's first victory on the young season.

Western Carolina opened the game on an 8-0 run and held Newberry to single-digit scoring until 1:21 left in the first quarter. The Catamount's 25-point output in the second quarter secured a 20-point lead at the half, 41-21, and was the pathway to WCU's victory.

The Catamounts shot 45.6% from the floor in the win paced by Kyla Allison's 15 points, while Tembre Moates added 10 points in the scoring column. Overall, the Catamounts dominated inside the paint with 35 rebounds and 30 points between the lines.

Bucs against the SoCon
Charleston Southern has faced off against seven current members of the Southern Conference in program history. CSU is currently 1-9 all-time against Western Carolina and has struggled as a whole against the SoCon. CSU first faced off against a member of the conference back in the 1976-77 season when the Bucs took on Furman.

ETSU (0-1)
Furman (4-22)
Mercer (5-5)
UNC Greensboro (2-14)
Chattanooga (0-1)
Western Carolina (1-9)
Wofford (5-6)

Overall, the Bucs are .500 against Mercer against the SoCon, while sitting one game back from both Wofford (5-6), ETSU (0-1), and Chattanooga (0-1).

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 40.7% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 36.4% from behind the arc on the year.
Big South FG% Leaders

Winthrop – 43.5%
Charleston Southern – 40.7%
High Point – 40.1%

Big South 3PT% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 36.4%
Radford – 34.5%
High Point – 33.1%

About the Bucs
CSU ran out the same starting lineup for the third game of the 2020-21 season as the Bucs started Sha'Mya Leigh, Alyssia Faye, Carmella Walker, Sharita Godfrey, and Janaia Fargo once again.

The Bucs are coming off a tough performance falling on the road to Davidson, 85-56. Overall, the Bucs struggled to connect from the floor shooting 16-of-50 (32.0%), but CSU did fight their way to the free throw line for 20 attempts in the contest. Sha'Mya Leigh (14) and Carmella Walker (14) both scored double-digits in the loss, while Alyssia Faye continued her strong rebounding presence with a career-high 10 boards.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Alyssia Faye (11.7)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (8.7)
Assists – Janaia Fargo (3.0)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.7)
Blocks – Sharita Godfrey (1.0)
Three-Pointers – Two players (1.3)

About the Catamounts
Western Carolina bounced back from a difficult opening stretch with losses at UNC Asheville, at Duke, and home against Elon, before topping Newberry this past weekend, 63-44, for their first win of the 2020-21 campaign.

Redshirt senior guard Lauren LaPlant was the Catamounts' lone player named to the preseason All-SoCon team as the guard was recognized after breaking WCU's record for three-pointers in a season (80), while scoring double-digits in 21 games. WCU was selected eighth overall in the SoCon preseason poll.

WCU Leaders per game

Scoring – Kyla Allison (12.3)
Rebounding – Tembre Moates (7.3)
Assists – Andrea Martin Ruiz (2.8)
Steals – Kyla Allison (1.3)
Blocks – Two players (0.5)
Three-Pointers – Lauren LaPlant (1.5)

Upcoming Schedule
The Bucs continue the 2020-21 season with four of the next five games on the road, including the start of Big South Conference play on December 21-22 at Hampton. CSU is in the process of adding another nonconference opponent for December 17. The Bucs open Big South play on December 21-22 with a two-game set at Hampton, before hosting Gardner-Webb on January 4-5.