CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a crosstown showdown fueled by a dominant third-quarter surge and a commanding performance in the paint, the College of Charleston women’s basketball team remained undefeated Friday afternoon by dispatching visiting Charleston Southern 80 to 65 at a raucous TD Arena.

A crowd of 3,617 watched the Cougars improve to 2-0 on the young season, while the Buccaneers, still seeking their first victory, fell to 0-2.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the first half showcasing a competitive back-and-forth battle and the second half revealing the Cougars’ superior depth and execution. Charleston Southern came out strong, trailing by only three points after a first quarter that ended 18 to 15. The Buccaneers continued to hang tough in the second period, but the Cougars began to create separation, outscoring their opponents 24 to 18 to take a 42 to 33 lead into the halftime break.

Any hopes of a Buccaneer comeback were swiftly extinguished in the third quarter. College of Charleston unleashed its most potent offensive stretch of the evening, pouring in 25 points while simultaneously clamping down on defense. The Cougars’ relentless pressure forced Charleston Southern into costly mistakes, which they efficiently converted into points on the other end. This pivotal period saw the home team extend its lead to 67 to 55, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Cougars’ 21 points scored off turnovers, a staggering 18-point advantage in that category over the Buccaneers, was the single most decisive factor in the contest.

While the Buccaneers managed to score 22 points in the third, their offense stalled completely in the final frame. Charleston Southern was held to just 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Cougars closed out the victory with a 13-point quarter of their own to seal the 80 to 65 final.

The individual standout for College of Charleston was sophomore center Grace Ezebilo, who delivered a monstrous double-double that anchored her team on both ends of the floor. Ezebilo dominated the glass, pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds while also contributing 13 points, an assist and a block in 28 minutes of action. Her presence inside was instrumental in the Cougars’ 28 to 24 advantage in points in the paint.

Providing the primary scoring punch was guard Taryn Barbot, who led all scorers with 22 points. Barbot was a constant threat throughout her 34 minutes on the court, adding 8 rebounds and 4 assists to her stat line in a comprehensive performance. The duo of Ezebilo and Barbot proved too much for the Buccaneers to handle.

Other contributors for the Cougars included Leah Philpotts with 5 points and Sophia Tougas with 6 points. The victory followed a historic opening-night win for College of Charleston, a 135 to 41 rout of Covenant College just four days prior.

For Charleston Southern, the loss marks a second consecutive heartbreaker to open the season. The Buccaneers were coming off an 86 to 84 overtime defeat on the road at Jacksonville this past Monday. The team showed flashes of offensive capability, particularly in the second and third quarters, but ultimately could not overcome the disparity in points off turnovers.

The game unfolded largely as predicted by advanced metrics, with Interstat’s ELO system having given the College of Charleston a 96.3 percent probability of victory.

Looking ahead, the Cougars will enjoy a week off before returning to TD Arena to host Iona on Friday, Nov. 14. The team will then embark on a stretch of five consecutive road games, including challenging matchups at Power Five programs Colorado and Florida State in early December.

Charleston Southern faces a quick turnaround and a difficult road trip, traveling to face East Carolina on Tuesday, Nov. 11, followed by another road test at Georgia Tech on Thursday, Nov. 13. The Buccaneers will not play a home game at the Buc Dome until Saturday, Nov. 22, when they host South Carolina State.