Nov. 27, 2006

Charleston, S.C. - Charleston Southern University earned its first win of the season in women's basketball on Monday night, in the process sending the Bethune-Cookman College Wildcats to their third consecutive loss, with an emphatic 66-46 victory at CSU Field House in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bethune-Cookman (1-3) started off the game in impressive fashion as senior forward Rosanna "Shay" Jones (Walterboro, S.C.) and Danetta Simpson (San Antonio, Tex.) pitched in five points a piece before the half. B-CC jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before the homestanding Buccaneers of Charleston Southern (1-4) 16-3 run sparked by Pam Tolbert and Keena Wicker to grab the lead back at 16-7 just under halfway through the first half.

The Wildcats kept things close throughout the first half as Cassandra Calcagno (Farmington Hills, Mich.) pitched in four points of her own to help the `Cats to within striking distance ay a 27-21 deficit at the break.

The second half, however, belonged to the Bucs as three players entered the double-digit column, as well as fabulous defense on the other end of the court. Shaunte Small tied her own school record with five (5) blocked shots, 10 points and six rebounds on the night en route to the CSU win.

The Wildcats were held to just 28 percent shooting on the game, though managing 36 percent from the floor in the second half. Meanwhile, the Bucs shot 49 percent from the floor.

CSU's victory snapped an eight-game losing streak dating back to Feb. 25, 2006, including a 0-4 start to the 2006-07 campaign. Leading the charge in victory for the Bucs was Pam Tolbert with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, as well as five assists. Keena Wicker was the high-scorer on the night with 18 points and seven rebounds, while fellow Buccaneer Shaunte Small added 10 points and six rebounds--including those five blocked shots. For the Wildcats of B-CC, Jones was the high-scorer with a season-high 14 points, three rebounds and three steals. Calcagno pitched in nine points and eight rebounds, just shy of a double-double performance of her own.

Bethune-Cookman now drops to just 3-16 against non-conference opponents since the 2004-05 campaign.

The Wildcats will look to turn things around and stop their current three-game skid when they travel to in-state rival and conference foe Florida A&M University in Tallahassee on Saturday for a key MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) match-up set for a 2 p.m. tip-off.