Charleston Cougars women's basketball

The Charleston Cougars women's basketball team represent the College of Charleston in the Coastal Athletic Association of NCAA Division I women's college basketball. They are led by head coach Amanda Butler, who is in her first season.

History The College of Charleston women Maroons were first formed in 1919.Newspaper Clippings about College of Charleston basketball, Pierrine Smith Byrd Papers, 1919-1991, College of Charleston Libraries Pierrine Smith Byrd, who would become the College's first female graduate in 1922, was the team's first captain. Under head coach Nancy Wilson, the Cougars appeared in the AIAW National Division II Championship Game three times from 1980 to 1982.

The Cougars moved up to NCAA Division I and joined the Trans America Athletic Conference (now known as the ASUN Conference) in 1991. They joined the Southern Conference in 1998, and later joined the Coastal Athletic Association in 2013.

The team has made three appearances in the Women's Basketball Invitational, in 2010 under head coach Nancy Wilson, and again in 2013 and 2014, under head coach Natasha Adair. Since current head coach Robin Harmony was hired in 2019, the Cougars have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament twice, and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026, after winning the CAA Tournament for the first time.

Coaches The Cougars have had eight head coaches since their first season in 1974. The current coach was hired in 2019.

Coach Years Overall record Joan Cronan 1974–1976 43–12 Nancy Wilson 1976–1984 193–63 (3 AIAW Div II National Runners-Up) Scooter Barnette 1984–1994 182–104 Kathy McCaskill-Rhein 1994–1998 32–74 Melissa Slone 1998–2003 45–94 Nancy Wilson(Second stint) 2003–2012 118–152 (1 WBI appearance)(311–215 Career Total) Natasha Adair 2012–2014 35–31 (2 WBI appearances) Candice Jackson 2014–2019 39–113 Robin Harmony 2019–2026 122–81 (1 NCAA appearance & 2 WNIT appearances) Overall record: 809–724 (through 2025–26 regular season) Source

Postseason

NCAA tournament results The Cougars have appeared in the NCAA tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

2026 #14 First round #3 Duke L 64–81

WNIT results The Cougars have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) two times. Their combined record is 2–2.

2024 First roundSecond round USC UpstateIllinois State W 78–60L 67–74 2025 Second roundSuper 16 HowardRutgers W 76–56L 67–89

WBI results The Cougars have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) three times. Their combined record is 5–3.

2010 First roundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Morehead StateBradleyAppalachian State W 67–59W 76–66L 58–77 2013 First roundQuarterfinals Northern KentuckyDetroit Mercy W 72–70L 67–79 2014 First roundQuarterfinalsSemifinals USC UpstateNorthern KentuckyStephen F. Austin W 85–71W 60–54L 74–78

AIAW College Division/Division II The Cougars made three appearances in the AIAW National Division II Basketball Tournament, with a combined record of 9–3.

1980 Second roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Saint Peter'sMorgan StateWilliam PennDayton W, 75–58W, 64–56W, 67–49L, 53–83 1981 First roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Southwest Missouri StateTuskegeeCal Poly PomonaWilliam Penn W, 70–55W, 85–68W, 102–84L, 51–64 1982 First roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational Championship Florida InternationalLivingtonNorth Dakota StateFrancis Marion W, 96–44W, 65–48W, 88–73L, 83–92 Source

References

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