#articleRelated { display: none !important; } Sophomore Keena Wicker scored six of CSU's last eight points, including the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining to put the Buccaneers past College of Charleston, 83-81, at the North Charleston Coliseum Friday night.

Charleston Southern (1-0) has won the last five meetings with the Cougars dating back to 1998. Charleston (0-1) held as much as a 13-point lead in the second half after securing an six-point halftime margin.

The Buccaneers sprinted to a 7-0 lead, helped by three early Cougar fouls. Charleston used five points from Patrice Bryant to fuel a 14-7 run to tie at 16 all. After three lead changes, the Cougars pushed the lead to as much as nine. Inconsistent foul shooting by the Bucs (8-for-15) in the first half, combined with 15 turnovers, left the visitors down 44-38 at the break.

At halftime, CofC's Bryant led all scorers with 12 points, while CSU's LaKeshia Bryant paced her team with 10.

Defensively, Charleston Southern came out of intermission with full court pressure after made baskets, a gamble that eventually wore down the Cougar frontcourt and forced them out of their offensive strategy. Defensive intensity spelled 20 CSU points off turnovers.

Initially, the College broke the trap, going from six points ahead to 12 until Danielle Baskin's three-pointer broke the Buc offensive drought.

"Our kids made things happen on the press", CSU head coach Stephanie Yelton said. "We got a lot of deflections and forced some mistakes."

Charleston Southern flirted with a single-digit deficit several times before ripping off a 13-5 run to make the score 69-68 with 5:39 remaining. Sophomore guard Deborah Cherry tied the game with a three-pointer at the three-minute mark, and Wicker's baseline turnaround gave CSU their first second-half lead with two minutes left. Charleston's Bryant scored, followed by Shanna Mickens to put the Cougars up one with 1:13 remaining.

Cherry's three-point play was offset by Jennifer Manard's three-point bomb, and the game was tied for the sixth time with 21 ticks on the clock. Yelton signaled for a time-out.

"We drew up a clear out for Dee Dee [Cherry]; we wanted to give or point guard an opportunity to go to the basket," Yelton explained after the game. "We said, 'if the dish is there, go with it, or take a shot.' Other than a turnover or an offensive foul, nothing bad could happen there."

Cherry got isolation, going left, changing pace, then going strong to the hoop for what looked like a routine layup. Airborne, Cherry dropped a pass for Wicker, who converted with two seconds left to make the edge 83-81. A Charleston heave at the buzzer was well off the mark, and Charleston Southern took its second season opener in a row from the College.

"They really hung in there [down 13 points], and I'm very proud of them," Yelton expressed. "It's awesome to start the year on a positive note."

All of Wicker's 14 points came in the second half. Bryant added seven in the second period to finish with 17 points. Cherry scored 16 points, dished nine assists, and recorded seven steals, all career highs. Senior Lisa Crandall contributed 11 points and six boards.

College of Charleston's Bryant had a game-high 20 points, while Manard and Rachel King scored 11 each.

Charleston Southern travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats next Tuesday, while the College hosts S.C. State in eight days.