ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Winthrop University women's basketball team leaned on its defensive from the opening tip Saturday, forcing 24 turnovers and converting them into 23 points to earn a 63-54 win over Charleston Southern at the Winthrop Coliseum. Amourie Porter paced the Eagles with 17 points, while Charleston Southern's Tyonna Bailey nearly carried the Buccaneers back with 30 points and 12 rebounds. 

FIRST QUARTER 

• Winthrop set the tone early as Mya Pierfax opened the scoring off a steal and assist from Amourie Porter for the first basket of the contest. 
• Tocarra Johnson finished a fastbreak layup at 7:40, pushing the Eagles in front by four after another forced turnover. 
• Charleston Southern got on the board through Tyonna Bailey, who scored in the paint to cut it to 4-2. 
• Ryiah Wilson knocked down a three at 6:39, extending the lead to 7-2 as Winthrop continued to disrupt passing lanes. 
• Winthrop stayed aggressive defensively, turning steals into transition baskets from Jada Ryce and Madison Ruff. 
• Ruff capped the quarter with a late three as the Eagles closed the opening period up 16-11. 

SECOND QUARTER 

• Madison Ruff opened the quarter with a basket and a free throw to stretch the margin to 19-11. 
• Charleston Southern responded behind Bailey, who attacked inside and later connected from deep to keep the Buccaneers within striking distance. 
• Cori Lard came up with a steal and finished on the break at 3:24, pushing Winthrop back in front 29-21. 
• Bailey stayed aggressive at the line, trimming the deficit as Charleston Southern continued to chip away. 
• Winthrop answered by getting to the free-throw line, with Pierfax knocking down a pair to maintain control. 
• A late basket by the Buccaneers closed the half, but Winthrop carried a 31-26 advantage into the break. 

THIRD QUARTER 

• Charleston Southern opened the half on all cylinders as Caelan Ellis scored early to cut the margin to 31-28. 
• Winthrop responded inside, with Ruff and Porter scoring in the paint to push the lead back to 35-30. 
• Johnson added a jumper at 7:01, helping steady the Eagles during a brief Charleston Southern push. 
• Bailey continued to lead the Buccaneers, knocking down a three to keep the game close. 
• Winthrop's defense stayed disruptive, forcing multiple turnovers that prevented Charleston Southern from stringing together a run. 
• Porter closed the quarter at the line as the Eagles took a 46-35 lead into the fourth. 

FOURTH QUARTER 

• Winthrop opened the final period with another turnover-to-layup sequence; Johnson finished in transition to make it 48-35. 
• Charleston Southern answered behind Bailey, who scored in bunches to trim the deficit to 50-42 at 7:21. 
• The Buccaneers continued to apply pressure, cutting it to 55-50 midway through the quarter. 
• Porter answered with a big jumper at 6:20, settling the Eagles and pushing the lead back to 53-44. 
• Winthrop closed strong at the free-throw line, with Porter and Lard combining for key makes down the stretch. 
• Pierfax sealed it with a late steal as Winthrop held on for the 63-54 win. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Winthrop finished the game shooting 39.6 percent from the floor, while Charleston Southern shot 33.9 percent. 
• The Eagles forced 24 turnovers, converting them into 23 points, compared to 19 turnovers by Winthrop. 
• Winthrop held a 39-34 edge on the glass and scored 16 fast-break points. 
• Charleston Southern was led by Tyonna Bailey's 30 points and 12 rebounds, accounting for more than half of the Buccaneers' scoring. 
• Porter led Winthrop with 17 points, while Madison Ruff added 15. 

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