Great Start; Bucs post 90-54 win over Lady Saints in season opener

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Katie Tull scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and four players scored in double figures as the Charleston Southern women's basketball team defeated Limestone College 90-54 in the season opener for the Buccaneers Friday night at CSU Field House.

CSU (1-0) starts the season on a positive note for the third-consecutive year, with this being the second-straight season-opening victory over the Lady Saints.
Tull knocked down a three-point basket in the opening minute, and Charleston Southern never trailed in the contest.

The only real trouble CSU would face was when Whitney Todd, Limestone’s leading returning scorer from last season, scored on a layup at the 8:38 mark of the opening period to cut CSU’s lead to 24-21. A barrage of baskets and stellar defense following the LC rally propelled the Buccaneers on a 22-8 run to end the first, and the home team entered the break with a 46-29 halftime advantage.

Charleston Southern would gradually increase its lead in the second off by equipping a more effective transition game into the mix, and the Lady Saints had no answer for the balanced offensive attack as CSU would go on to win by a decisive score of 90-54.

The victory was capped off in the final seconds of the game when Helen Terry drove the lane and threw a behind-the-back pass to Kori Penick for an easy layup for the final two points of the game for CSU.

Terry’s debut wearing the blue and gold was a successful one as she earned the start in her first collegiate game and responded with a very solid performance. She scored 10 points on just 4-of-13 shooting, but she also had eight assists and five rebounds, while only turning the ball over once.

Tull went 5-for-8 from three-point land and was the only CSU player to knock down a three as the team finished 5-of-20. Ali Schwagmeyer and LeChell Rush both had seven rebounds and the duo combined for 22 points.

Kelsey Wasmer was just 4-for-11 from the field and failed to knock down a three-point attempt, but she did go 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and finished with 13 points.

Shay Jones also made her CSU debut and went 3-for-6 from the field. She scored seven points and had four steals in 20 minutes of action.

Lakeitha Alston also contributed nine points and six rebounds and Lydia Johnson added eight points and four boards. The tandem went a combined 7-of-11 from the field off the bench.

CSU shot 49 percent form the field and held Limestone to just 29 percent. Todd led LC with 14 points and Tia Williams added 11.

The staunch Buccaneer defense forced 34 turnovers and the team outrebounded the Lady Saints 46-42.

Charleston Southern returns to action Nov. 20-21 as the team plays host to both University of Texas at San Antonio and Mercer University in the Lowcountry Women’s Classic. The matchup with UTSA begins at 7:30 p.m. and tipoff for the MU game is set for 6 p.m.