CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern women's basketball tips off the 2021-22 season Tuesday evening when it faces the Alabama Crimson Tide inside Coleman Coliseum at 6 p.m. eastern time (5 p.m. central time).
 
Game Details
Tuesday, November 9
Charleston Southern (0-0) at Alabama (0-0)
6 p.m. * Tuscaloosa, Ala. * Coleman Coliseum * Live Stats * Watch
 
New Year, New Look
Charleston Southern enters a new era of women's basketball, with Clarisse Garcia beginning her first season as head coach. In addition to Garcia, the entire coaching staff, consisting of Stephanie Stoglin-Reed, Ashley Jones and Jordan Kyles, all enters year one in the Lowcountry.
 
With a new staff comes a new system, and the Bucs have embraced a style of play that Garcia has described as "fast, fun and fierce." CSU will also feature five newcomers on its roster this season in freshmen Skylar Baltezegar, Jordan Rogers and Madison Adamson, and transfers Victoria Dames and Zaire Hicks.
 
Veteran Presence
CSU returns four of its five starters from last season, including nearly all of its offensive production from the 2020-21 team. Alyssia Faye was the Bucs' leading scorer and rebounder last season, ranking inside the top 15 in the Big South in both scoring and rebounding at 11.9 points and 7.1 boards per game.
 
Sharita Godfrey is also back for her senior season after finishing third on the team in scoring (9.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game), while leading the team in 3-point percentage at 44.0 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Janaia Fargo, Sha'Mya Leigh and Makenna Winans all spent time in the starting rotation last season, and all three are back this season and expected to play significant roles within the CSU lineup.
 
Light it Up
Tori Gittens had a game-high 23 points in Charleston Southern's exhibition contest against Columbus State Saturday evening. Gittens had nine field goals, including a trio of 3-pointers, and also added three rebounds and three steals.
 
Gittens' career high in a regular season game is 14 points, which was accomplished at Winthrop during the 2020-21 season.
 
High Intensity
Charleston Southern's intensity on the defensive side gave Columbus State fits in Saturday's exhibition. The Buccaneers forced 29 Cougar turnovers, which they turned into 23 points.
 
CSU also kept Columbus State under 40 percent shooting for the game, including an 8-for-27 (.296) mark from the field in the first half.
 
Closing out Strong
Alyssia Faye ended the 2020-21 season on a high note for the Bucs. Faye reached double-figure scoring in each of the last five games, and also had five or more rebounds in eight straight games to close the season.
 
Faye was also one of just eight players to rank inside the top 15 of the Big South in both scoring and rebounding during the 2020-21 season, and the only player in the conference to reach that mark and not be selected to the all-conference teams.
 
Chasing the Pack
Charleston Southern was picked to finish last in the Big South Preseason Poll, which was voted on by the head coaches in the conference. The Buccaneers received 18 points in the poll.
 
Scouting Alabama
Alabama is coming off its first NCAA Tournament apperaance since the 1998-99 season, posting a 17-10 record and reaching the Round of 32.
 
The Crimson Tide has big shoes to fill, however, as the top three scorers from last year's team are gone. Alabama returns a pair of starters from last year's squad in Megan Abrams and Hannah Barber, while Allie Craig Cruce, Myra Gordon and Taylor Sutton all played more than 20 games off the bench during the 2020-21 season.
 
Kristy Curry enters her ninth season as head coach of the Crimson Tide and is second in school history with 133 wins at Alabama.
 
Series Breakdown
Tuesday's contest will be the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between the Buccaneers and Crimson Tide.
 
Charleston Southern is 0-21 all-time against SEC foes and has not defeated a Power Five opponent since taking down Clemson during the 2011-12 season.
 
Coming Up on the Schedule
Charleston Southern has a week off before its next game, a home contest against George Mason on November 16 at 6 p.m.
 
Charleston Southern's Next Five Games

• November 16 vs. George Mason – Home Opener
• November 20 at Western Carolina
• November 26 at Auburn
• November 29 vs. Belmont Abbey
• December 2 vs. College of Charleston

 
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