CHARLESTON, S.C. - Rachelle Coward poured in 30 points and Charleston Southern connected on 14 three-pointers to key the Lady Buccaneers to an 83-78 win over in-state foe Winthrop in Big South Conference women's basketball on Monday night at the CSU field house.

The victory pushed CSU to 9-4 overall and propelled them to a 2-0 start in league play. It is CSU's first 2-0 start in Big South play since the 1997-98 season.

Sophomore guard Erin Bratcher sunk six of the 3-pointers, shooting 50 percent from downtown on her way to a 20-point effort. Coward hit another five from long range while hitting 11-of-12 shots from the free throw line.

Senior forward Lakeitha Alston (eight points) and Helen Terry (nine points) tied for the team rebounding lead with six boards apiece , while Terry also dished out a team-high six assists on the night. The Buccaneers finished the game shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. CSU scored 22 points off Winthrop's 17 turnovers.

Deques McClanahan led Winthrop with 30 points, while Diana Choibekova finished with 17 on the night. Samiya Wright and TaQuoia Hammick each put up 13, with Hammick leading the Eagles with seven boards as well. Winthrop shot 50 percent from the field but went 8-for-22 from downtown.

Charleston Southern opened the game with a 9-2 scoring run but Winthrop answered with a 10-3 run to tie the game at 12. Winthrop pushed ahead to a seven-point advantage but Coward hit two free throws to tie the game at 23. The rest of the half would play close before CSU grabbed a 45-40 halftime advantage with a late run.

CSU maintained a lead through the first seven minutes of the second half but a three by Choibekova and a layup by McClanahan would give Winthrop a two-point lead. Coward sunk a three with just under seven to play, spurring a mini-comeback for the Buccaneers. Coward hit six free throws in the final 5:30 and Bratcher connected on a pair of treys late to provide the final margin.

CSU will hit the road for its' first conference road swing on Saturday, heading to Gardner-Webb for a 5 p.m. game with the Runnin' Bulldogs in Boiling Springs, N.C.