Charleston Southern University Athletics
Mercer
11/10/2026 2:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Basics
Game Three
Charleston Southern (0-2) at Mercer (2-1)
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 11 / 7:00 p.m.
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Mercer Athletics
Location: Hawkins Arena
CHARLESTON – The Charleston Southern women's basketball team continues its 2026-27 nonconference slate Wednesday evening as the Buccaneers travel to Macon, Ga., to face Mercer at Hawkins Arena.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. as CSU looks to secure its first victory of the season under first-year Head Coach Tim Hays.
The Buccaneers enter the matchup at 0-2 following a 71-54 setback at College of Charleston on Saturday. Ashleigh Battle led the way for Charleston Southern with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including two three-pointers. Lauren Cummings added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Anica Škrivan contributed seven points off the bench.
Charleston Southern will look to build on several individual performances from its first two contests, highlighted by Battle's 14.0 points per game and sophomore Celina Vilcinskas' 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. The Buccaneers also held a 21-4 advantage in second-chance points against College of Charleston, while outrebounding the Cougars 34-33.
Wednesday's matchup marks the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Mercer holding a narrow 7-6 advantage in the series. The Bears enter the contest at 2-1 following a 77-51 loss at Wake Forest on Sunday and have claimed the last two meetings against Charleston Southern, including a 71-45 victory at the Buccaneer Fieldhouse last season.
Fans can keep up with Wednesday's matchup live on ESPN+ or by following @CSUBucsWBB on X for updates and information.
Quick Hits
- Wednesday marks the third game of the Tim Hays era at Charleston Southern as the Buccaneers look to secure their first victory of the 2026-27 campaign.
- Charleston Southern enters the matchup at 0-2 following setbacks at East Carolina and College of Charleston to open the season.
- Ashleigh Battle leads the Buccaneers in scoring through the first two contests, averaging 14.0 points per game. Battle recorded a game-high 21 points against College of Charleston on Saturday, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and connecting on two three-pointers.
- Sophomore Celina Vilcinskas has provided a consistent presence in the frontcourt, averaging 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 61.5 percent from the field. The 6-foot-9 center opened the season with 10 points and five rebounds at East Carolina before adding six points and six rebounds against College of Charleston.
- Lauren Cummings finished one point shy of a double-double against the Cougars, recording nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Cummings went a perfect 3-of-3 from the field.
- Charleston Southern held a 21-4 advantage in second-chance points against College of Charleston and outrebounded the Cougars 34-33. The Buccaneers also outscored CofC 26-24 in the paint.
- The Buccaneers welcome 13 newcomers to their 14-player roster this season, with senior Alaina Nettles serving as the lone returner from the 2025-26 squad.
- Charleston Southern's roster features student-athletes representing 11 different countries, marking the most countries represented on a roster in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
- At 6-foot-9, Vilcinskas is the third-tallest player in NCAA Division I women's basketball. She is joined by 6-foot-7 freshman Happy Arune, forming the tallest duo in Division I women's basketball.
- Bayan Salman, a native of Bahrain, is believed to be the first player from her country to compete in NCAA Division I women's basketball and the only active Division I women's basketball player from Bahrain.
- A victory Wednesday would give Hays his first win at Charleston Southern, secure the Buccaneers' first victory of the 2026-27 season and even the all-time series against Mercer at 7-7.
Opponent Information: Mercer
- Mercer enters Wednesday's matchup with a 2-1 record following a 77-51 setback at Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. The Bears opened the season with back-to-back victories before suffering their first loss of the campaign.
- Fifth-year newcomer Ada Anamekwe led Mercer with 15 points against Wake Forest, while the Bears committed 24 turnovers that the Demon Deacons converted into 30 points.
- Mercer enters the 2026-27 season following a 17-win campaign a year ago, returning two starters and one additional letterwinner from last season's roster.
- Mercer holds a narrow 7-6 advantage in the all-time series against Charleston Southern, with the two programs first meeting in 1985.
For the latest information on CSU women's basketball, follow @CSUBucsWBB on X and Instagram or go to www.CSUSports.com.
---#BucStrong---
