WBB Preview | Bucs host Gardner-Webb in Big South doubleheader

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern welcomes the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs to the Buccaneer Field House for a two-game set on January 9-10. Tipoff for Saturday's game is set for 2 p.m., while Sunday's game time is slated to start at 1 p.m. Both games will be carried live on ESPN+.

Game One – Monday, January 9

Charleston Southern (5-3, 3-1 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (2-7, 2-2 Big South)
2 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Game Two – Tuesday, January 10

Charleston Southern (5-3, 3-1 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (2-7, 2-2 Big South)
1 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Buccaneer Field House
Game Notes | Live Stats | ESPN+

Series History
Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series over the Bucs, 16-6, with the Runnin' Bulldogs sweeping the 2019-20 contests last season. The series dates back to the 2008-09 season when Gardner-Webb took the first matchup in conference competition in Boiling Springs, 60-50.

Last Five Contests

Feb. 1, 2020 – Gardner-Webb won 67-45
Dec. 31, 2019 – Gardner-Webb won 79-52
Feb. 26, 2019 – CSU won 66-58
Jan. 29, 2019 – Gardner-Webb won 75-65
Feb. 17, 2018 – Gardner-Webb won 75-59

The Runnin' Bulldogs have been dominant in the series over the last three seasons with GWU winning five of the last six matchups after snapping a three-game CSU winning streak. CSU's latest win in the series game in 2019 with the Bucs topping the Runnin' Bulldogs at the Field House, 66-58, courtesy of a 22-point, 11-rebound game from Shelby Wilbanks.

Gardner-Webb took both games last season in the regular season sweep. The Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of an early 11-0 run in the first contest to take the 79-52 win on New Year's Eve. The second game saw GWU take advantage of 15 first-half CSU turnovers on their way to the 67-45 victory.

Buccaneers split with Presbyterian in Big South home opening weekend
Presbyterian took advantage of a double-digit run that spanned the end of the first quarter and start of the second quarter and held off a late Buccaneer rally as Charleston Southern fell in the series opener to the Blue Hose, 62-51. Sharita Godfrey paced the Bucs with 13 points in the contest as CSU kept the Blue Hose within striking distance throughout a majority of the game. A Godfrey three-pointer at the 1:26 mark narrowed the Blue Hose lead down to 57-51 before PC closed out the game from the free throw line.

In Tuesday's rematch, Godfrey picked an excellent night for a career performance as the junior guard scored 22 points and hit several key shots down the stretch as Charleston Southern topped Presbyterian on Tuesday night, 66-63. She connected on a jumper at the 4:21 mark in the fourth quarter to give the Bucs' their first lead of the game at 58-57. Alyssia Faye followed up with a layup on the ensuing CSU possession and Godfrey drained another jumper at the 2:49 mark to give the Bucs the 62-57 lead and cap an 11-0 run late in the contest. The Bucs would go on to hold off the Blue Hose late in securing the split.

Gardner-Webb splits with Hampton to move to 2-2 in conference play
Gardner-Webb used a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter to spark a 70-56 win over Hampton in Big South Conference action in the series opener inside Paul Porter Arena. The 'Dogs led by as many as 19 points following a three-pointer by Emma Capps with 7:18 to go in the final period, but the Pirates would make one last comeback effort, scoring nine unanswered points to cut the GWU lead to ten with 4:37 to go. A mid-range jumper by Gabrielle Caponegro stifled Hampton's run with 3:20 on the clock, and the Runnin' Bulldogs would go on to take a 14-point victory.

Gardner-Webb's comeback effort late in the fourth quarter fell short in the rematch, as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to visiting Hampton by a 46-38 score on New Year's Eve. Hampton closed the door on Gardner-Webb's comeback attempt with 47 seconds to go, with Nas Nigatu knocking down a three-point basket at the top of the key. The Pirates would also make three free throws in the final seconds, while also preventing GWU from scoring over the final possessions of the contest to set the score at 46-38.

Bucs against the Big South
No surprises when it comes to conference play for the Buccaneers as Charleston Southern has faced off with each Big South team on multiple occasions throughout the years. The inaugural matchup between the Bucs and a Big South opponent came back in the 1977-78 season when CSU fell to the Winthrop Eagles, 73-52.

Campbell (5-37)
Gardner-Webb (6-16)
Hampton (4-3)
High Point (14-32)
Longwood (11-10)
Presbyterian (14-16)
Radford (18-56)
UNC Asheville (31-39)
USC Upstate (5-10)
Winthrop (34-39)

Charleston Southern was picked 10th overall in the conference's preseason poll as voted on by the coaches prior to the Big South Media Day. Gardner-Webb was selected fifth overall, but like the Bucs, did not garner any preseason all-conference players.

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 field goal percentage and three-point percentage on the season. Overall as a team, the Bucs are shooting 40.4% from the floor as a unit, while hitting 37.6% from behind the arc on the year.

Big South FG% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 40.4%
High Point – 40.1%
Campbell – 38.8%

Big South 3PT% Leaders

Charleston Southern – 37.6%
Campbell – 33.5%
High Point – 33.0%

About the Bucs
CSU utilized just its third starting lineup of the 2020-21 season as Makenna Winans joined the Buccaneers' starters in the second game against the Blue Hose. For the season, seven different players have earned starting nods from head coach Fred Applin on the season.

The Bucs are coming off the season split with the Blue Hose that saw junior guard Sharita Godfrey come into her own in the scoring column, while Carmella Walker and Alyssia Faye both filled the statistics sheet in various categories.

CSU Leaders per game

Scoring – Carmella Walker (11.1)
Rebounding – Alyssia Faye (6.6)
Assists – Sha'Mya Leigh (2.0)
Steals – Sha'Mya Leigh (1.6)
Blocks – Alyssia Faye (0.8)
Three-Pointers – Sharita Godfrey (1.9)

About the Runnin' Bulldogs
Gardner-Webb struggled through non-conference play as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell in their contests against Elon, Auburn, Richmond, Virginia Tech, and Vanderbilt. Through the first two weeks of conference play, GWU picked up wins in the second game against Presbyterian and the first game against Hampton to earn the conference splits.

Currently, Gardner-Webb is in a three-way tie for fifth overall in the conference standings with PC and Longwood. The Runnin' Bulldogs have struggled to contain opponents on the season and sit last in the Big South in both team field goal percentage (30.5%) and field goal percentage defense (45.6%).

Gardner-Webb Leaders per game

Scoring – Jhessyka Williams (10.3)
Rebounding – Alasia Smith (8.9)
Assists – Ki'Ari Cain (3.6)
Steals – Jhessyka Williams (2.6)* - Big South Leader
Blocks – Lyrissa Deans (0.9)
Three-Pointers – Lauren Bevis (1.4)

Upcoming Schedule
The Bucs continue the 2020-21 season with six of the next 10 games at home. The Bucs will hosting UNC Asheville (Jan. 15-16) and Campbell (Jan. 22-23), before traveling to Winthrop (Jan. 29-30) to close out the month. Currently the Bucs are scheduled to host Senior Day against High Point on February 5-6.