After an 11-day break, the Charleston Southern women's basketball team will begin Big South play this Thursday as they host the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs at 5 p.m. in the Buc Dome.
Gardner-Webb
The Bulldogs came into this season with high expectations and have not disappointed so far, starting the year off with an 8-4 non-conference record. Picked to finish atop the Big South in the preseason polls, they have already played three similar opponents this season to the Bucs in Georgia Southern, College of Charleston and East Carolina and are 3-0 against all three of those teams.
Gardner Webb is led by Head Coach Alex Simmons, who is in her fifth year with the program. Coming into this season, her team returned 91% of the roster from last year's team; including preseason Big South Player of the Year, Alasia Smith as well as two other all-conference selections.
Charleston Southern
- After finishing the non-conference season with a 2-9 record, the Bucs are back at the Buc Dome for the first time in nearly two weeks, and are looking to snap a five-game losing streak.
- Head Coach Clarisse Garcia has preached playing a rigorous non-conference schedule and that was the case this year. The Bucs played three power-five opponents, including the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia back on December 18th.
- The Bucs have played just five home games this season and are 2-3 at the Buc Dome and 0-6 on the road.
- Charleston Southern is averaging 48 points per game this season, while giving up 74.5 points per game. That is a point differential of -26.5.
- Catherine Alben continues to lead the Bucs in points per game this season, averaging 8..6 points per game. Off the bench, she is averaging 19.6 minutes per game.
- Kennedi Jackson had made nine starts on the season and has played in 11 games total. She is the leading rebounder on the team with 5.2 per game. She scored a team-high five points against South Carolina last time out, which was also a season-high for her. On the defensive side, she is tied with Saniya Jones with eight blocked shots on the season.
- After this, CSU will be on the road for the next two games, travelling to USC Upstate and up to Virginia to face Longwood.
Game Details
Who: Gardner-Webb vs Charleston Southern
When: Thursday, December 29
th at 5 p.m.
Where: The Buc Dome
How To Watch:
ESPN+
