NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum shifts and a frantic final minute, the Charleston Southern Buccaneers escaped with a 53-51 victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller on Saturday at CSU Field House.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 862, was a tale of contrasting halves and a nail-biting conclusion that saw the Buccaneers secure their first win of the season, improving to 1-4. The Bulldogs, who led for much of the second half, fell to 2-4 with the narrow defeat.

Charleston Southern opened the game with clear intent, capitalizing on a sluggish start from the Bulldogs. The Buccaneers raced out to a 13-7 lead after the first quarter, spearheaded by early baskets from Tyonna Bailey and Caelan Ellis. South Carolina State’s offense struggled to find its rhythm, hampered by turnovers and missed opportunities.

The second quarter, however, belonged entirely to the visiting Bulldogs. They flipped the script with a stifling defensive effort, holding Charleston Southern to a mere six points in the period. South Carolina State’s offense, led by the backcourt duo of Iemyiah Harris and Mya Byrd, began to click. The Bulldogs outscored the Buccaneers 15-6 in the quarter, turning a six-point deficit into a 22-19 halftime lead.

South Carolina State continued to build on its momentum after the break, extending its lead in the third quarter. The Bulldogs’ interior presence, led by 6-foot-3 freshman Heaven Harper, began to make a significant impact. Harper contributed eight points and two blocks, providing a crucial spark on both ends of the floor. Angie Juste-Jean also provided a key offensive lift off the bench, finishing with 11 points. Despite the Bulldogs’ efforts, the Buccaneers managed to keep pace, scoring 17 points in the third to stay within striking distance at 40-36 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter evolved into a tense back-and-forth affair. Charleston Southern’s Asha Sra, who logged a team-high 39 minutes, orchestrated the Buccaneers’ comeback with 11 points and four assists. With the game on the line, Caelan Ellis emerged as the hero for the home team. Ellis, a guard from Powder Springs, Georgia, poured in a game-high 16 points, including several critical baskets down the stretch.

Trailing by two points in the final minute, Charleston Southern executed a decisive play. With just one second remaining on the clock, Ellis drove to the basket and converted a layup to give the Buccaneers a 53-51 lead. South Carolina State called a timeout to advance the ball, but Mya Byrd’s desperation three-point attempt as time expired missed the mark, sealing the victory for Charleston Southern.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Both teams scored 17 points off turnovers and were nearly level in points in the paint, with South Carolina State holding a slight 34-28 advantage. The difference ultimately came down to key possessions in the game’s final moments.

For South Carolina State, Harris led the way with 10 points and five assists in 36 minutes of action, while Byrd added nine points. Charleston Southern’s Bailey joined Ellis and Sra in double figures, contributing 12 points in the winning effort.

The victory provides a much-needed boost for Charleston Southern, which had lost its first four games of the season, including a 47-point road loss to Georgia Tech. South Carolina State, meanwhile, will look to rebound from its third consecutive loss as it continues a challenging early-season schedule.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Charleston Southern entered the game as a heavy favorite with a 96.10 percent probability to win, a prediction that was nearly upended by a resilient Bulldogs squad before Ellis’ last-second heroics.