The Winthrop women’s basketball team returns to the Winthrop Coliseum Tuesday evening to host Johnson C. Smith as the Eagles begin a two-game homestand.
Winthrop enters the matchup with a 1-1 record after opening the season with a 57-46 victory over Newberry before falling 75-40 to Georgia last Thursday.
Against Newberry, the Eagles used a 10-0 third-quarter run to take control. Madison Ruff led Winthrop with 15 points and four steals as the team forced eight first-quarter turnovers and limited the Wolves to two field goals in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles struggled against Georgia, which capitalized on turnovers to build a 51-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
Ruff, a Big South Preseason First Team selection, returns as one of Winthrop’s key contributors. She averaged 10.9 points per game last season. Ryiah Wilson, Tocarra Johnson and Mya Hamilton also return, providing experience for a roster that includes nine newcomers.
Johnson is expected to play an important role on the boards after averaging 7.1 rebounds per game last season.
Johnson C. Smith opens its season Tuesday. The Golden Bulls and Eagles have met twice previously, splitting the series 1-1. Their last meeting came during the 2008-09 season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
